Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Saudi Arabia wants to be a bigger player in the Middle East — this time with diplomacy
Though most of its terrain consists of arid and infertile deserts, lowlands, and mountains, Saud Arabia is geographically a vital country as it is the only country that has a coastline along both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The kingdom also holds religious significance as home to the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina. Economically, it is the largest in the Middle East, thanks to its abundant oil resources. In fact, it is the world’s top oil exporter and holds a significant role in the oil market. However, diplomatically, it had been very conservative and even harsh against Iran, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen’s Houthis. However, the kingdom seems to have changed its diplomatic policies to be open and friendly to those countries and parties. Indeed, if the desert oil producer wants to be a global economic player as well as a tourism and business hub, it needs to be open, friendly, and welcoming to others. And diplomacy is one that they can focus on first as it hardly requires any cost or effort but a change in policies and attitudes.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about Saudi’s new diplomatic initiatives.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/03/middleeast/saudi-diplomacy-iran-sudan-mime-intl/index.html
Saudi Arabia wants to be a bigger player in the Middle East — this time with diplomacy
Though most of its terrain consists of arid and infertile deserts, lowlands, and mountains, Saud Arabia is geographically a vital country as it is the only country that has a coastline along both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The kingdom also holds religious significance as home to the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina. Economically, it is the largest in the Middle East, thanks to its abundant oil resources. In fact, it is the world’s top oil exporter and holds a significant role in the oil market. However, diplomatically, it had been very conservative and even harsh against Iran, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen’s Houthis. However, the kingdom seems to have changed its diplomatic policies to be open and friendly to those countries and parties. Indeed, if the desert oil producer wants to be a global economic player as well as a tourism and business hub, it needs to be open, friendly, and welcoming to others. And diplomacy is one that they can focus on first as it hardly requires any cost or effort but a change in policies and attitudes.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about Saudi’s new diplomatic initiatives.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/03/middleeast/saudi-diplomacy-iran-sudan-mime-intl/index.html
No comments:
Post a Comment