A quick one today - I’ve been in meetings all week and haven’t had time to post much, and next week is Canada Day, family visits, and then conference travel so posting will likely be light then as well. All of which is fine as there hasn’t been a lot of news on the China-MENA beat since the burst from the CASCF last month. The big story has been a two-week security seminar in Beijing that kicked off last week. Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman traveled to China; this appears to be the purpose. As always, a comparative perspective helps when you react to these stories. The PRC-KSA military cooperation might be on a ‘fast track’, but that’s measured against what it’s always been in terms of security relations - minimal. They are talking, and that’s normal given the depth of their economic and energy cooperation, but there is no scenario in the near/mid-term where China is a major security partner for Saudi Arabia or its neighbours. I’d keep in mind the fact that the Kingdom is still negotiating a deeper commitment with the US through the proposed normalization with Israel. This is a more substantial story to be tracking right now.
Not substantially. China has a very minimal security presence across the IOR, and that extends to the Gulf. It's quite limited in what it's willing and able to do militarily at this stage.
Do you not see a deeper China KSA military coop in the horizon under with the possible failure of US KSA security deal considering current events?
Not substantially. China has a very minimal security presence across the IOR, and that extends to the Gulf. It's quite limited in what it's willing and able to do militarily at this stage.