From the Gaza conflict to potential diplomatic ties with Israel, and negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Saudi Arabia has placed itself at the center of major international issues.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman © Mena Today
From the Gaza conflict to potential diplomatic ties with Israel, and negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Saudi Arabia has placed itself at the center of major international issues.
At the helm of this ambitious diplomatic strategy is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who is reshaping the kingdom’s global influence.
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a potential mediator, while maintaining its historical support for the Palestinian cause.
One of the most sensitive diplomatic issues remains the potential establishment of formal Saudi-Israeli relations. While several Arab nations have embraced normalization through the Abraham Accords, Saudi Arabia remains the last major Arab power holding out.
If a full-fledged normalization deal materializes, it would mark a geopolitical turning point, reshaping alliances in the Middle East.
However, MBS is proceeding cautiously, mindful of the historical weight of the Palestinian issue and internal resistance within Saudi society. He is likely seeking firm guarantees for Palestinian sovereignty before officially normalizing ties with Israel.
Beyond the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has now entered the Ukrainian conflict, further demonstrating its expanding diplomatic reach. By engaging with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and discussing a sustainable peace solution, Riyadh aims to position itself as a mediator between the West and Russia.
While Saudi Arabia has refrained from condemning Russia outright, it has maintained pragmatic dialogues with all sides, focusing on energy market stability and geopolitical balance.
By increasing its diplomatic involvement in Ukraine, Riyadh seeks to solidify its reputation as a global power broker, all while protecting its strategic interests, particularly its OPEC+ partnership with Moscow.
Saudi Arabia’s New Diplomatic Strategy
Long perceived as a passive actor reliant on the United States, Saudi Arabia under MBS is undergoing a transformation, asserting itself as an autonomous diplomatic force with the ability to influence major international crises from the Middle East to Europe.
This new strategy—marked by calculated assertiveness and diversified alliances—signals a clear ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a pillar of global stability.
The key question remains: how far can MBS push this diplomatic agenda without facing internal resistance or straining relations with long-standing allies? One thing is certain: Saudi Arabia is no longer a bystander but a central player in global diplomacy.
By Bruno Finel
The United States agreed on Tuesday to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after talks where Kyiv said it would accept a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia, the countries said in a joint statement.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed efforts to achieve "sustainable fair, and comprehensive" peace in Ukraine, according to a joint statement published on Tuesday by the Saudi state news agency (SPA).
U.S. and Ukrainian officials were to meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks aimed at mending ties and gauging if Ukraine is willing to make concessions under President Donald Trump's push to end Russia's war with Ukraine swiftly.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.