(by Andrea Pinto) Five days of meetings held in the strictest confidence, like this Saudi Arabia e Iran they have re-knit in Beijing the web of relations interrupted in 2016: within two years the embassies will also reopen. The Middle East can now count on a strong alliance thanks to the longa manus of China which acquires, in a hot region of the planet, unexpected strategic importance.
Since 2016, relations between the two Middle Eastern "big names" had been frozen after the execution of the Shiite sheikh in Riyadh Nimr al-Nimr and the following attacks on the Saudi embassy in Iran. Just as Saudi activism in the war in Yemen did not go unnoticed.
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To have the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran shake hands, Ali Shamkhani, and the Saudi national security adviser, Musaid Al Aibane, thus announcing to the world the new axis, the new Chinese foreign ministers Wang Yi.
In a joint statement it is emphasized in fact "the restart of relations which will lead to the development of regional stability and security”. "As a reliable mediator, China has faithfully fulfilled its duties as host,” Wang said.
In December, Xi Jinping signed 34 agreements while visiting Riyadh. In mid-February he signed another 20 in the presence of the Iranian president Ebrahim raisi. By doing so, China reinvigorates its own Global Security Initiative, in which he wants to act as guarantor of world stability.
"In the world there is not only the crisis in Ukraine”Wang commented hotly. In fact, Chinese interest would be aimed at those parts of the globe where there is still insecurity and where the West has shown indifference. China wants to fill the void left by the Americans and allies: Africa, Afghanistan and hot spots in the Middle East, (in primis), with an eye to Russia, India and Pakistan.