US President Joe Biden stated the Middle East accepts the US' leadership to stop the 'vacuum' from being filled by China or Russia, but Wang Wenbin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the US is very mistaken, and the KSA crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had already decided even before Biden's visit.
US To Continue Leading in the Middle East
The Thursday statement of Biden about leading the Arab states was countered by Beijing, which stated that no one controls the destiny of the region, not even America, reported RT.
This trip would be the first by Biden to the Arabian Gulf this week that began in Israel, where he made a joint declaration with Prime Minister Yair Lapid that assured Jerusalem of US support to stop Tehran from building a nuke.
In a moment of hubris after signing the Israeli accord, the president declared that the next leg, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Friday, would demonstrate US influence.
Biden claimed that Donald Trump ignored the oil-rich region, and stressed that Jeddah and the heads of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) would allow the US a chance to convince all nine Arab states, noted Naharnet.
Furthermore, Biden clarified some issues could not be ignored and let the Arab states decide if they wanted to deal with China or Russia, stressing that it is western concerns over the Middle East. These oil-rich regions would not give an extra drop of oil to the US, suffering sanctions-related problems.
Despite the use of pressure and alleged threats, that is what is supposed to be US diplomacy to bend non-western nations; to make pariahs of China and Russia, has only backfired. One example is major non-Arab oil producers have dismissed President Joe Biden despite the claims.
The Arab League, composed of 22 independent states, chose their welfare and rebuffed the Biden administration and its satellites, not supporting sanctions and ignoring Ukraine.
To make Washington aware it has no hold over them, the Kingdom's oil imports from Russia have doubled since the second quarter of this year, citing The Middle East Eye.
KSA Seeks Chinese Help in Weapons Development
In the meantime, the Kingdom's leaders reportedly requested Chinese assistance in developing ballistic missiles and indicated an interest in selling oil to China in yuan rather than dollars, mentioned CNN.
Since 2016, Beijing has invested heavily in the Middle Eastern regions and forked out a whopping $29 billion compared to a measly $7 billion spent by the US.
Other investments are 5G deals, spending $123 billion in infrastructure projects for the 2017 Belt and Road Initiative, according to the Arab Center.
Biden did not mention the Abraham Accords negotiations of former President Donald Trump to secure no major armed conflict in four years.
Last Friday, China said these states should not be forced or pressured to trade or accept deals against its will, especially their oil and gas that the west covets to rope in.
Wang Wenbin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, stressed that the region needs stability and development, not deals or promises. China supports this region in solving its problems hand in hand.
President Joe Biden stressed the Middle East has Washington to lead them, despite KSA buying more oil from Russia and asking for help with weapons development from China.
