A video showed China’s foreign minister encouraging his Iranian and Saudi counterparts to shake hands/ Reuters
By Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi
IN the aftermath of the loggerhead between these two countries, OPEC and OIC organisations have lost their decisiveness. In recent years, Saudi-Iran relations have undergone a change, and their current phase is characterized by pragmatism. The establishment of the two countries was generally considered fundamentally antagonistic from the start. However, the regional role that Riyadh and Tehran play has always brought the two into the spotlight. It substantiates that the two countries have more interest in a shared future than a cold war. In the post-COVID world, global politics is witnessing realignments, and more such changes are expected in the coming years. Saudi-Iran have learnt the lesson and as such, a stable thaw is also expected and desirable.
The Kingdom was established in 1932 after the Ottoman Caliphate collapsed. The establishment was a treaty between the Al-Saud family and the Wahabbi ideology propounded by Ibn Abd al-Wahab. The Kingdom sits on a volcano of Shia rebellion. The Shias of Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and of course, Lebanon and Houthis are a reality and a question mark for Riyadh.
On the other hand, the Islamic Republic is predominantly a Twelver Shi’i country, a sizable Sunni minority that is mostly not Wahabbi. The Islamic Republic was established in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution overtook power in Tehran. Iran is a Shia nation with a revolutionary force with an immense Pan-Islamic tendency. On various occasions, Iran has challenged the jurisprudence of the Kingdom over the holy cities present in the countries.
The COVID pandemic has changed the world to a large extent. The Post-Pandemic world will see a changed global economy, a power shift, and non-conventional questions. The developing economies are becoming the focus, and the failure of addressing the pandemic by the world powers has established multilateralism for the coming years. The question of biological terrorism is replacing the hard and military measures, and concepts like food security and health and hygiene are taking the lead for most of the regimes. The COVID situation has also alleviated the repulsion of Beijing as a leader who has dealt with the situation internally on a large scale. COVID has shattered the neo-liberal dream of a borderless world and a fantasy of living in a global village. The situation has underlined the importance of regional coordination and cooperation. Ideological differences are taking a back seat, and readiness and leadership for such situations are becoming new politics.
The West Asian region is also changing in the given situation. The rebellion of ordinary people on issues like life and livelihood is becoming rampant. The Saudi-Iran relations are flexing for realignment and change. There are fundamental differences, but more attention should be given to their common ground—ideas like Pan-Islamism, OPEC and consideration of the two giants’ regional roles. The two countries are considered the leaders of the two Muslim sects across the region and beyond. However, the emergence of Turkey has challenged the Saudi role, but still, Saudi has a considerable say among the Sunni sections that comprise the majority of the region. The second important avenue is that the two countries are major petroleum producers, and their friendship can control the energy needs. Hence, they will have a significant say in International Relations. This alignment has excellent potential to revive the glory of Muslims and touch Muslim lives by voicing local concerns.
Saudi-Iran relations have another dimension that affects the global South, especially South Asia. The Muslim communities in South Asia are too divided along Shia-Sunni lines, and we need to start a new dialogue between the two groups. Secondly, a rise in OIC and OPEC will de-hegemonise international organizations. The phenomenon can be utilized in strengthening the South-South dialogue, and giant players like India will have a direct impact without compromising its non-alignment stance. The vitality of Indo-Iran and Indo-Saudi connections in this scheme can be seen as an emerging alliance and play a crucial role in bringing dialogue between Beijing and New Delhi. Consequently, transforming pathways can establish negotiation politics elsewhere.
In the changing scenario, the pragmatic relations between the Islamic Republic and the Kingdom should benefit the two countries and the region. The prolonged political instability and sectarian tension in the region have a broader impact. The US exit from Iraq and the Syria question suggests that comprehensive peace negotiations and economic engagement can show a stable future. Saudi-Iran relations and cooperation can end many conflicts and bring negotiating power towards regional organizations like OIC and OPEC.
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
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