In the shadow of the conflict in Ukraine and confrontation between some of the world’s major partners, the Middle East and Gulf regions have seen a number of political and diplomatic movements.
These new steps are not entirely in one direction, but a mix of raising and lowering tensions between encouraging optimism and generating concern. Taken all in all, this indicates that the region is in a process of self-organization and disorganization in many aspects leading to structural change, affecting the political situation, security and international relations.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdullahian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 18. Photo: Reuters
For several decades now, the Middle East and the Gulf have always been immersed in wars and violent conflicts due to regional sovereignty disputes, religious conflicts and ideological conflicts, as well as external interference to serve their geopolitical interests. In recent times there have been many strong and unexpected changes in all these aspects.
Israel and Palestine are still far from a peaceful political solution to their long-running conflict. However, Israel has taken several important steps in the process of normalizing relations with the Arab world. With the mediation of the US, Israel is working towards an agreement on mutual diplomatic recognition with Saudi Arabia. The most notable new development is that Saudi Arabia sent a non-resident ambassador to the Autonomous State of Palestine and a Consul General to Jerusalem as part of the agreement with Palestine.
Saudi Arabia is moving towards normalizing diplomatic ties with Israel but remains steadfast in its support for the independent state of Palestine. Given its special status and major influence in the Arab world, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel has a very decisive influence on the further process between Israel and the Arab world. Recent diplomatic moves with Palestine show that Saudi Arabia cannot help but link the normalization of relations between the kingdom and Israel with the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Simultaneously with the resumption of Arab relations with Syria, the growing closeness between Iran and Saudi Arabia and some other dynasties in the Gulf also changed the overall picture in the region. This is even more prominent in the context of ever-increasing tensions between Iran and the US.
Even the US deliberately increased its direct military presence in the Strait of Hormuz to deal with Iran, while the two sides have yet to reach a new agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. In addition, several other external partners such as China, India and Japan significantly increased their efforts to conquer the Gulf and Middle East as well as the Arab world. Russia and Turkey also want their existing position and influence in the region not only not to be damaged but also to be strengthened.
It appears that parties in the Middle East and Gulf are aware that the region is geopolitically, economically and commercially bright but vulnerable to external divisions. Therefore, they find it necessary to find a way or take advantage of the outside to resolve all long-standing problems with each other, jointly enhance their status and create a stable peaceful arrangement to enhance their strength. .
