Arab Leaders Gather for a Pivotal Summit in Riyadh
On Monday, leaders from various Arab nations convened in the capital of Saudi Arabia for a significant summit, occurring at a sensitive juncture for the kingdom. This gathering comes as Saudi Arabia has shown signs of a potential thaw in its long-standing rivalry with Iran, a relationship marked by decades of tension and conflict.
The summit’s primary agenda was centered around the ongoing hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel’s military confronts militant groups backed by Iran. This meeting unfolds against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions, particularly with the impending influence of a more hawkish Trump administration in Washington concerning Iran.
Initially, Saudi Arabia was on the verge of formalizing its recognition of Israel. However, the recent escalations in Gaza and Lebanon have dampened those prospects. In a surprising shift, the kingdom and its regional allies have begun to foster closer ties with Tehran. Just last month, the foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf states held their first collective meeting with their Iranian counterpart, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic relations. Additionally, on Sunday, the chief of staff of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces met with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, further indicating a softening of relations as Iran contemplates its response to Israeli military actions on its soil.
In his opening remarks at the summit, Saudi Arabia’s influential crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, underscored the importance of this evolving relationship. He stated, “We call on the international community to compel Israel to respect Iran’s sovereignty and refrain from attacking its territory.” These comments reflect the complex dynamics at play in the region.
The historical rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been largely shaped by their differing interpretations of Islam and their struggle for regional supremacy. Iran’s extensive network of proxies across the Middle East—including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—has long been a point of concern for Saudi Arabia. Despite the weakening of these groups due to Israeli military actions, Iran continues to provide support to the Houthis in Yemen, a faction involved in attacks against Saudi territory.
“The core issue that has driven a wedge between us has been Iran’s behavior in the region, which we believe has not fostered stability,” noted Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, last week. He emphasized, “We are engaging in very open and sincere dialogues with the Iranians.”
Analysts suggest that Saudi Arabia may be leveraging this summit as a strategic opportunity to communicate with the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Donald J. Trump has articulated a desire to “stop wars” upon taking office. According to Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow specializing in Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, “Saudi Arabia might be positioning itself as a viable and trustworthy partner for the Trump administration, especially if Trump follows through on his commitment to broker peace in the region, given the unsuccessful diplomatic efforts by other regional players, particularly Qatar and Egypt.”
