Iran-KSA detente.

Following several rounds of unannounced parleys, KSA and Iran, under the Chinese umbrella, have announced to resume diplomatic relations 'within two months' to primarily implement security and economic cooperation deals signed more than two-decades ago. We knew something was brewing in China, Iraq, and Oman regarding Tehran and Riyadh. But no one was expecting such an encouraging and positive outcome. Whether or not this detente goes beyond issuing a tri-lateral statement, only time will tell. However, the development has opened several avenues of fresh cooperation, particularly in the Middle Eastern region. Just to recall, both countries had severed diplomatic ties in 2016 following a series of rival flashpoints including the Saudi execution of revered Iranian cleric al-Nimr.

Calling it a 'diplomatic breakthrough', Pakistan has warmly welcomed the development while commending China's role in coordinating the historic agreement. However, the later part of the official statement created a kind of doubt as to China's 'conclusive' role in brokering the deal. It seemed as if Pakistan had also played some kind of 'a constructive role' in it. The statement claimed that Pakistan had a 'history of consistently supporting and coordinating efforts for bridging gaps between the two brotherly countries.' As Pakistani FM was not seen in the picture with FM Wang Yi nor did the trilateral statement issued by China, Iran and KSA mention Pakistan in any form or manner, the latent 'nuance' in Islamabad's 'constructive role' could at best be construed as wishful thinking. This 'cut and paste' portion of the statement could have been avoided.

To say that China has emerged as a peacemaker would be a factually correct statement. But to term this development as some kind of diplomatic defeat for the US might not be true. Washington had been desiring to limit US involvement in the Middle East particularly under Obama, Trump, and Biden. That, by default, would provide China and Russia some space to fill especially in the realm of security to GCC countries against internal and external threats. Washington could not continue the policy as certain events like the 11-day war in Gaza in 2021, the assassination of Iraq's PM and attacks on US bases in Syria and Iraq drew the US back into the Middle East. Washington's wavered approach on Iran's nuclear deal (JCPOA) coupled with the imposition of crippling sanctions imposed on Iran by Trump and subsequently, Biden's...