Autol Bayev, former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan： China’s enhanced footprint in the Middle East has a far-reaching impact.

　　The reference news network reported on April 17 that the world newspaper syndicate website published an article entitled "Will China win the Middle East?" The article was written by Dzhumart Autol Bayev, former Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic. The full text is as follows:

　　Just a few years ago, it was almost unthinkable for Saudi Arabia, a long-term strategic partner of the United States, to join an economic and security organization dominated by China and Russia. However, Saudi Arabia recently approved a memorandum granting it the status of "dialogue partner" of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — — This is the first step to becoming a full member.

　　Founded in 2001, the SCO currently has eight member countries, namely China, India, Pakistan, Russia and four Central Asian countries — — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Countries with observer or dialogue partner status include Egypt, Iran and Qatar.

　　Although the SCO is not a military alliance compared with NATO, it is not just an economic association. On the contrary, the SCO constitution stipulates that security cooperation is one of the important contents of the organization, and SCO members often hold joint anti-terrorism exercises.

　　Saudi Arabia’s accession to the SCO represents the victory of China, which has been seeking to improve its geopolitical influence and challenge the current US-led international order. The diplomatic component of this effort is crucial. For example, Saudi Arabia agreed to an agreement brokered by China to resume diplomatic relations with Iran less than three weeks before approving the memorandum of identity of the SCO as a "dialogue partner".

　　What makes this diplomatic achievement possible is China’s economic influence. Not coincidentally, at the end of March, the oil giant Saudi Aramco announced that it had acquired a 10% stake in China Rong Sheng Petrochemical Company, with a transaction amount of about $3.6 billion. Saudi Aramco now supplies China with more crude oil than the United States.

　　In addition to the SCO, Saudi Arabia has formally requested to join another organization dominated by China — — BRICS countries, members of this organization also include Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa.

　　Since China accounts for 72% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the BRICS countries, the organization — — Maybe in an expanded form — — It may be decided to start to settle trade payments in RMB. Even if this hasn’t happened, China may decide to settle the oil purchased from Saudi Arabia in RMB, just like Russia.

　　Given China’s share of global oil demand and global oil trade, other nearby oil-producing countries may be introduced into the same arrangement.

　　Indeed, China is unlikely to drive the United States out of the Middle East in a short time, especially because the United States remains the number one security partner of most Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia continues to host American military bases. Last month, the two countries completed their first joint anti-UAV exercise at a new military test center in Riyadh. Almost at the same time, two Saudi airlines announced plans to order 78 aircraft from American manufacturer Boeing, and may choose to buy another 43 aircraft.

　　Nevertheless, China’s growing footprint in the Middle East still makes the United States feel uneasy. Although American officials played down the impact of Saudi Arabia’s accession to the SCO, saying that it should have happened long ago, they expressed concern about the adoption of Huawei’s 5G technology in the Middle East and called on the United Arab Emirates to close what they thought was a security facility in China. In addition, the United States also warned that cooperation with China may affect the relations between countries and the United States.

　　In Saudi Arabia’s view, it is the United States that has been undermining bilateral relations. During the election campaign in 2020, US President Joe Biden threatened to make Saudi Arabia an "outcast of the international community" because of the killing of journalists.

　　Although Biden has softened his stance since then, some fundamental restrictions still exist.

　　Moreover, US Senators chris murphy and mike leigh recently put forward a "privileged resolution" asking the State Council to investigate Saudi Arabia’s domestic human rights practice and its involvement in the Yemeni conflict. The resolution stated that all security assistance to Saudi Arabia would be cut off unless a report was submitted within 30 days.

　　Therefore, Saudi Arabia’s turn to China also shows its dissatisfaction with American policy. This is not the first time that Saudis have used this method to bargain politically. China’s efforts to introduce Middle Eastern countries into the political and economic camps may have far-reaching strategic impact.