The Middle East has been a hotbed of conflict for decades, with many countries vying for power and influence in the region. However, recent developments indicate that the winds of change are blowing, and a new era of peace and diplomacy may be on the horizon. What's even more surprising is who seems to be leading the charge - China.
Mosque in Yemen
A recent China-brokered deal has led to Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria re-establishing full diplomatic relations. This is a significant breakthrough, as these countries have been adversaries for many years. The foreign ministers of these countries even met up in Beijing recently, marking the highest-level meeting between Saudi Arabia and Iran in seven years. Additionally, the war in Yemen, which has caused untold suffering for its people, may finally be coming to an end. Saudi Arabia is expected to announce the end of its war soon, and troops from the United Arab Emirates are already leaving Yemen, while a Saudi delegation negotiates a peace deal.
Shanghai, China
While most people view these developments as a cause for celebration, the US government seems to be less pleased. President Biden dispatched CIA Director William Burns to Saudi Arabia to express his frustration over the peace deals, indicating that the US foreign policy team feels "blindsided" by Saudi Arabia's move to get along with its neighbors. This reaction is not surprising, given the US's history of meddling in Middle Eastern affairs and its "divide and conquer" strategy.
What is surprising, however, is that China seems to be benefiting the most from this newfound peace. As more countries in the Middle East look for new partners and ignore US-demanded sanctions, China has positioned itself as a business partner rather than a political one. This approach is in stark contrast to the US's approach, which has been to manipulate the politics of the region to serve its own interests.
This shift in power dynamics could have significant implications for the US's role in the world. As more countries begin to ignore the US's demands and pursue their own interests, the US risks becoming isolated and irrelevant on the global stage. Those who attack non-interventionists as "isolationists" are missing the point - it is the neocons and interventionists in Washington who are isolating the US from the rest of the world.
The end of US meddling in Middle Eastern affairs may be a cause for celebration, but it is also a reminder that the US must adapt to a changing world order. China's rise to power and influence in the region is a reflection of its growing global clout, and the US must find a way to engage with the world that is not based on domination and control.
The US's interventionist policies in the Middle East have backfired, leading to greater instability and chaos in the region. By trying to impose its will on other countries and meddling in their internal affairs, the US has created resentment and distrust among many Middle Eastern nations, making it harder to achieve its goals and undermining its own security. Now, it seems that China's non-interventionist approach is winning over many countries in the region, suggesting that the US's heavy-handed tactics may ultimately be counterproductive.