“Both sides are still interested in exploring next steps regardless of whether the Saudis bury the hatchet with Tehran,” he says, adding “what is notable here is that the Saudis are clearly hedging on America.”
“There is continued uneasiness with the current leadership in Washington. China’s role as broker will be seen as a slight to the White House. All of this comes as the Saudis have reportedly dangled nuclear considerations in exchange for normalization with Israel. The ball is, without question, now in Biden’s court,” Schanzer adds.