The Arab League summit last Friday in Jeddah shows great ambition on the part of Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a diplomatic bridge in the Middle East

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photo_camera PHOTO/FILE - Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman

The changing geopolitical situation in the Middle East makes many countries want to take advantage of the situation to move forward. Historical instability has given way to a context of reconfiguration that is as flattering as it is surprising, which is why some, such as Saudi Arabia, want to export their regional leadership to a greater level. The re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Iran - thanks to Chinese mediation - after seven years of blockade, has opened the way for Saudi diplomatic expansion. Now, the aim is to show itself as a feasible and solvent solution to the challenges facing the international community, as it demonstrated at Friday's Arab League summit in Jeddah.

The meeting was marked by a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. This is a key meeting because of Damascus' ties with Moscow. Above all, the current situation in Syria and its controversial return to the Arab League mean that Saudi Arabia has a greater interest in bringing positions closer to al-Assad's side. Riyadh's main objective is to consolidate the crown prince 'as a key figure in the changing geopolitical landscape', according to Kristian Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He also believes that they intend to "demonstrate that they are capable of closing gaps that others can only dream of".

PHOTO/SANA via AP - En esta foto publicada por la agencia oficial de noticias siria SANA, el presidente sirio Bashar Assad, a la derecha, da la bienvenida al ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Arabia Saudita, Faisal bin Farhan, a la izquierda, antes de su reunión en Damasco, Siria, el martes 18 de abril de 2023
PHOTO/SANA via AP - In this photo released by Syria's official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, welcomes Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, left, before their meeting in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

For some time now, Saudi Arabia has been gaining weight in international politics. The implementation of various initiatives to move away from oil dependence has led to a great financial expansion that has been transferred to all spheres. Proof of this is the aforementioned return to relations with Tehran, the welcoming of the Syrian return to the League, and the mediation in the Sudanese conflict. Moreover, in recent weeks, the Saudi and Syrian Foreign Ministers have exchanged visits and announced their intention to reopen diplomatic missions, which have been non-existent since 2012, when Riyadh severed its ties with Syria.
 
The turnaround in the Syrian situation does not reflect a change in the reason for its expulsion. The situation within Syria's borders remains worrying, but the interests of its potential allies favour reinsertion into the organisation, despite many reluctant actors. However, the position of the United Arab Emirates is crucial, as it was the UAE that re-established diplomatic relations with Bashar al-Assad's regime back in 2018. This does not prevent several countries from calling for a distancing from Iran before welcoming the Syrian rapprochement.

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PHOTO/SANA via REUTERS - Al-Assad's participation in the Jeddah summit signals his return to the organisation and consolidates the end of his regional isolation.

According to Rabha Seif Allam, an expert at the Al-Ahram Centre for Policy Studies in Cairo, 'the next steps of Arab countries are not related to democracy or governance, but to regional security'. Syria's most important differences are with Qatar. However, according to Syrian media, al-Asad greeted the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which has been interpreted as a positive gesture, given the Syrian president's rejection of Al Thani.
 
The meeting in Jeddah has served to show Saudi Arabia as an important solution to the various conflicts plaguing the region. Indeed, Zelenski's inclusion at the summit has attracted the attention of observers, who interpret it as a message to Russia. Although Saudi Arabia is forging closer ties with Syria and Iran, key Kremlin allies in the Middle East, Riyadh warns that Putin does not have absolute freedom in the region. It should also be borne in mind that Saudi Arabia, although it has a growing portfolio of supporters, still has one of its most important backers in Washington.

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