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The Gulf Research Center (GRC) @Gulf_Research and The European House Ambrosetti (TEHA) @Ambrosetti_ organized a roundtable discussion titled “The New Relevance of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, and the Middle East—Global Perspectives.” featuring Federico Rampini, journalist, writer and principal expert in geopolitics at TEHA.

The roundtable convened academics, diplomats and representatives in the business community to discuss Middle East geopolitics from a nuanced perspective.

This discussion examined the growing global influence of the Gulf region and highlighted the importance of Saudi Arabia in particular. It delved into the social changes taking place with the implementation of the Vision 2030 agenda items, sparking a shift in political and religious ideologies. This has meant improved relations with the West as far as democracy and human rights debates are concerned.

Saudi Arabia has played a role in aligning Europe with the Gulf for energy supplies since the start of the war in Ukraine. They have effectively redirected EU focus away from Russia and toward Gulf partners.

Viewed as a thriving market with abundant investment opportunities, particularly after pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, Saudi Arabia has garnered attention from the international business community. Collaborating with resource-rich African partners, alongside the Kingdom's deepening ties with China and Russia, presents opportunities. However, the growing alignment between Saudi Arabia and Russia in OPEC+ raises concerns in the US, potentially providing opportunities for China and Russia.

Discussing various points in the roundtable, Rampini explored the changing geopolitical landscape shed light on the roles of regional powers like Saudi Arabia in the international system. The Gaza war underscored Saudi Arabia's regional influence while revealing diplomatic vulnerabilities.