Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Oct 13, 2024

Estonia’s Lennart Meri Conference sheds light on Middle East developments, Saudi-Iran ties

Estonia’s Lennart Meri Conference sheds light on Middle East developments, Saudi-Iran ties

Analysts at a prominent thought leadership conference in Estonia debated on Friday whether the Middle East region and its hotspots have been neglected due to the Western focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In what has been described as a “mixed blessing,” there has been a strategic shift by the US toward East Asia and Europe’s preoccupation with Russia, which has led to reduced Western attention on the Middle East, a Lennart Meri Conference panel heard. With some panellists warning that “even if you leave the Middle East, the Middle East will not leave you alone.”

This was discussed during the main event’s pre-opening session at the Lennart Meri Conference, in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. The role of the Middle East, rise of Saudi Arabia along with non-Arab countries, including Iran, Turkiye and Israel, was also considered.

Hanna Notte, senior associate with the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, said that the US did not want a war in the Middle East. Notte said that “we can continue playing games with Iran’s JCPOA,” referring to the Iran nuclear deal scrapped by former US president, Donald Trump, which has been stalled since last year.

Notte said that “we are in a bad place” with the JCPOA, and the Iranian regime is now stockpiling uranium, adding to Russia’s war in Ukraine as a “major wrench in global nuclear diplomacy.”

The session tackled the stalled JCPOA deal, and the West’s absence, which may open avenues for other possibly less-benign actors such as Russia and China to assert their influence. An example was their neglect of the impact of Iranian weapons being exported to the conflict in Yemen war but not on the war in Ukraine.

Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that there had been a decrease in US influence, while China’s had been growing in the Middle East due to a decreased reliance on regional oil and a lessening in the perceived terror threat from region.

Seth Jones, senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies


Editor-in-Chief of Riyadh-based Arab News, Faisal J. Abbas, also commented on China’s role and praised their efficiency in brokering the Saudi-Iran reproachment, saying it took only three months from the proposal presented by President Xi during his December 2022 visit to Riyadh and the declaration announed in Beijing on 10 March 2023.

However, despite the role the Chinese are playing in the region, the kingdom’s relations with the US remain “ironclad” – adding that there are reasons why the Chinese proposal to mediate was welcomed.

“I know very well how China is perceived in Europe and how China is perceived in the US, but you also have to look at it from a Middle Eastern perspective,” Abbas said.

“We know what’s happening in Asia, in terms of the Chinese foreign policy there, but you have to remember in the collective memory of the Arab world (that) China was never a colonizing power in the region,” Abbas said. “It doesn’t bring any of the luggage that comes with, for example, Britain or France, or even the United States in the region.

“And most importantly, unlike Iraq (who tried to mediate between Riyadh and Tehran), China has leverage and 400 billion reasons, and that’s the amount of investment pledged in dollars to be invested in iran over the next 25 years.”

Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Riyadh-based Arab News


Russia’s alignment with Iran is long-standing, but for the first time Moscow is dependent on Tehran to secure weapons for the war in Ukraine and is looking for political support from parties that have not been isolated, said Anna Borshchevskaya, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Anna Borshchevskaya, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy


Mustafa Aydin, professor at the international relations faculty of economics, administrative and social sciences at Kadir Has University in Turkiye, said that his country’s priority was “stability on its own borders and in the wider Levant and Middle East region,” adding that this had been lacking since the end of the Cold War.

He also said that the US backing of the Syrian Kurds broke the relationship with Turkiye and pushed Ankara to forge closer ties with Russia.

Mustafa Aydin, professor at the international relations faculty of economics

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Tesla's Robotaxi Design Strikes Controversy
Global Condemnation, Political Shifts, and Cultural Changes: Key Developments Around the World
Russia and Iran Bolster Economic Ties with Strategic Partnership Talks
Israel Issues Warning to Southern Lebanon Amid Ongoing Conflict
Poll Shows Trump Favored Over Harris in Handling Wars
Iran Enforces Electronics Ban on Flights After Lebanon Attacks
Gunfire Targets Jewish School in Toronto as Anti-Semitic Incidents Surge Across Canada
Global Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts: Key Developments from Turkey-Greece Talks to Electoral Concerns in Mozambique
Saudi Arabia Hosts Regional Environmental Summit Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
Saudi Arabia's Bold Reforms: Tax Exemptions, Water Security Initiatives, and Global Health Leadership Amid Middle East Tensions
100 Days of Keir Starmer: Navigating Economy, Controversies, and Global Challenges
Global Tensions Rise: Ukrainian Conscription Raids, Sectarian Clashes in Pakistan, and Natural Disasters in Florida and Nepal
Iranian Speaker Condemns Israeli Airstrike Amidst Regional Tensions; Saudi Arabia and Morocco Navigate Diplomatic Challenges
From Falconry to Foreign Relations: Exploring Heritage and Headlines Across the Middle East
Escalating Conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon Highlight Global Tensions Amid Nobel Peace Prize Reminders
Global Shifts: Navalny's Legacy, China's Taiwan Pressure, Saudi Arabia's Fintech Boom, and Middle East Tensions
Nicaragua Cuts Ties with Israel Amid Rising Global Tensions and Domestic Political Shifts
Putin and Pezeshkian Forge Economic Ties as Geopolitical Tensions Rise Across Middle East
Saudi Arabia Pursues Sustainable Future Amid Middle East Tensions and Iraq's Cultural Revival
Global Leaders Address Middle East Tensions Amid Regional Security Initiatives and Cultural Innovations
Bridging Cultures and Innovations: From Arabic Sign Language Tech to Saudi Heritage and Global Exhibitions
Cybersecurity Breach at Intesa Sanpaolo and Global Scandals: A Rundown of Key Developments
Noor Riyadh Celebrates Light Art Festival Amidst Middle East Tensions and Global Diplomatic Moves
Saudi Arabia Strengthens Global Economic Ties: Key Agreements and Strategic Investments Highlighted at Forums
Somalia Welcomes Egyptian Peacekeepers Amid Global Geopolitical Shifts and Economic Initiatives
Nobel Peace Prize 2024 Celebrates Japanese Atomic Bomb Survivors' Quest for a Nuclear-Free World
Global Tensions Rise: Spain Halts Arms Sales to Israel Amid Condemnation, While Middle East Conflicts Escalate
Global Alliances and Regional Tensions: A Week of Diplomatic Moves and Digital Advances
Global Challenges: UNHCR's Statelessness Victory, Hurricane Milton's Aftermath, and Rising Geopolitical Tensions
Historic Floods Reshape Sahara Desert Landscape
US Seeks Diplomatic Resolution in Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions
Ireland Urges Israel to Cease Fire on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Global Tensions Unfold: ASEAN Summit Criticizes China's Actions, Middle East Violence Escalates, and Ukraine Seeks Ally Support
Global Unrest: Mining Tragedy in Balochistan, Israel-Palestine Tensions, and Exploitation in Russia Contrast Tesla's Tech Innovations
Global Tensions Rise: Germany's Arms to Israel, Turkey's Influence in Albania, and Crises in Gaza and South Sudan
Saudi Arabia Unveils New Tourism Codes Amid Regional Diplomatic and Humanitarian Developments
Saudi Arabia's Dynamic Week: Market Gains, Innovative Initiatives, and Community Development
EU and GCC Summit Aims to Alleviate Arab Conflicts and Boost €170 Billion Trade Partnership Amidst Global Turmoil
Saudi Arabia and Oman Forge Green Economy Pact Amidst Cultural and Technological Advances
Gaza Tragedy Sparks Outrage as Saudi Arabia and France Strengthen Defense Ties Amid Regional Conflicts
Oman's Economic Resilience Amid Regional Tensions: S&P Upgrades Credit Rating; Saudi Arabia Advances Social and Industrial Growth
KAUST to Host Prestigious World Academic Summit Amidst Global Unrest and Escalating Conflicts
Turkish Energy Bourse Eyes Carbon Markets and IPO Amid Global Chaos: Geopolitical Tensions, Natural Disasters, and Notable Losses
Global Leaders Address Economic and Security Challenges Amidst Rising Tensions at ASEAN and East Asia Summits
US Warns Israel Against Expanded Military Operations Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East
Global Update: UNICEF Reveals Dire Sexual Violence Stats in Africa, NLD Faces Turmoil in Myanmar, and DACA Under Review While Storms and Safety Threats Unfold
Tensions Rise in Middle East as Lebanese Army Arrests Syrian Spies and Israel Intensifies Strikes, Amid U.S. Political Shifts and Nobel Prize Announcements
Tragic Missile Strike in Odesa, Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida, and UK Conservative Leadership Race Heats Up
Saudi Arabia's Strategic Moves: Wage Insurance for Foreign Workers and Strengthening Global Diplomatic Ties Amid Regional Turmoil
Saudi Arabia's Dynamic Shift: From Global Market Access to Cultural Innovation and Biotech Ambitions Under Vision 2030
×