According to the state news agency SPA, Saudi Arabia has approved a memorandum giving the country status as a conversation partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
China, India, Russia, and other nations from much of Eurasia make up the SCO, a political and security union.
In order to play a stronger role as a counterweight to Western influence in the region, the group that was originally founded in 2001 by Russia, China, and former Soviet states in Central Asia has been enlarged to include India and Pakistan.
Last year, Iran signed the necessary paperwork to become a full member.
According to sources speaking to Reuters, Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed joining the SCO while in Saudi Arabia last December.
Before granting the monarchy full membership in the organization, they claimed, dialogue partner status will be a prerequisite.
The choice was made in response to Saudi Aramco’s revelation on Tuesday that it had finalized a planned joint venture in northeast China and bought a share in a privately controlled petrochemical company, increasing its multi-billion dollar investment in China.
Washington, Riyadh’s steadfast friend, is concerned about security due to the kingdom’s expanding ties with Beijing. China efforts to influence global affairs, according to Washington, won’t alter US strategy toward the Middle East.
Concerned about what they perceive to be the United States’ retreat from the region as the primary security guarantee, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have taken steps to diversify their allies. Washington claims it will continue to be a key player in the area.
In August of this year, nations involved in the organization intend to conduct a joint “counterterrorism exercise” in Russia’s Chelyabinsk area.
