US and China Compete for Influence in Middle East Through Saudi Deals

Saudi Arabia signed a deal facilitated by China to restore diplomatic ties with Iran and announced a massive contract to buy commercial planes from U.S. manufacturer Boeing, leading to speculation that the Saudis are positioning themselves as a dominant economic and geopolitical force. While the Biden administration is pushing back against the notion that these developments signal a shift in the dynamics of the U.S.-China competition in the Middle East, China's involvement in facilitating the Iran-Saudi deal and the major Boeing contract have added a new twist to Biden's relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.