Recently, a peculiar situation has emerged in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, a long-time ally of the United States, has reportedly sought assistance from China to resolve its military conflict with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This marks a significant moment where a U.S. ally is leveraging the influence of a rival power to address security issues.
Initially, Saudi Arabia turned to the U.S. for support, requesting military action against the Houthi rebels. However, the U.S. declined the request. Instead, the U.S. engaged in secret meetings with Houthi representatives and decided not to provide support to Saudi Arabia. In return, the Houthis agreed not to attack U.S. and Israeli vessels. Despite Saudi Arabia's substantial investments in the U.S. and significant arms purchases, it found itself sidelined.
In this context, Saudi Arabia reached out to China, which urged Iran to restrain the Houthis. This is a task the U.S. has either been unable or unwilling to undertake. China has been asserting its presence in the Middle East, having mediated the normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, and is now capitalizing on the weakened U.S. influence in the region.
Moreover, the cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia is expanding into military aspects. Saudi Arabia has previously acquired Chinese-made self-propelled artillery, armed drones, and missiles. Recently, debris believed to be from a Chinese DF-15A short-range ballistic missile was discovered in Yemen, raising concerns that Saudi Arabia may have deployed Chinese missiles in combat. This situation has led to worries in the U.S. regarding potential technology leaks related to the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
However, this does not mean that Saudi Arabia has severed ties with the U.S. The United States remains a key security partner for Saudi Arabia and possesses the world's most powerful military. The significant issue is that expectations are wavering regarding whether the U.S. will respond to its allies in times of crisis as it once did.
Global leadership cannot be defined solely by military strength. It requires a foundation of trust that allies can rely on for security during crises. During World War II, the U.S. fought against common enemies like Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, emerging victorious and establishing itself as a global leader, often referred to as the 'world's police.' However, the current administration under President Donald Trump has shown a stark contrast, appearing more focused on threats and tariffs against traditional allies like South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Europe, while struggling with adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran.
In contrast, China's approach has evolved. While it still engages in aggressive diplomacy, known as 'wolf warrior diplomacy,' it is also making efforts to establish itself as a mediator on the international stage, particularly in the Middle East.
As autumn approaches, the international diplomatic season is set to begin. This month will see the BRICS summit and the United Nations General Assembly, followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November and the G20 summit in December. Notably, the U.S. and China are expected to hold three summits over the next three months, including a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. next week.
This year's major diplomatic issue is undoubtedly the Middle East crisis triggered by the war in Iran. The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February, has persisted for seven months and has now escalated into a war between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The resulting surge in international oil prices and shipping costs has led to inflation affecting the global economy.
Therefore, regardless of who initiated the war, stabilizing the situation has become paramount. The nation that successfully manages to resolve the conflict, whether it be the U.S. or China, will gain significant trust from the global community and be recognized as a global leader. Recently, President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that the war in Iran will conclude around the time of the midterm elections. It remains to be seen whether he can restore some of the lost image of the U.S. as a global leader through successful diplomacy or if he will cede that position to China and continue to diminish into a 'local bully.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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