The Saudi-Iranian enmity is a central element in the Middle East’s post-2011 violence.These two countries are at‘Cold War,’backing proxy allies,which fuels many of the region’s conflicts.Hence,any attempt at regio...The Saudi-Iranian enmity is a central element in the Middle East’s post-2011 violence.These two countries are at‘Cold War,’backing proxy allies,which fuels many of the region’s conflicts.Hence,any attempt at regional pacification will require mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran by powerful neutral stakeholders.To that end,this paper suggests an initiative by the Persian Gulf’s most important economic partners,China and India,an idea benefiting from their leverage-enhancing hydrocarbon market importance as well as their‘non-aligned status’in the conflict.Using the historical analogy of the 20th century Cold War between East and West as a loose framework,the paper identifies possible diplomatic and institutional mechanisms to achieve a Gulf detente and peace.It argues that these may be found in the historic Helsinki Accords and that a similar approach to the Saudi-Iranian Cold War should be attempted to prevent further regional and global conflict.展开更多
The New Silk Roads between Asia’s largest economies and regions,like the Persian Gulf,which has until now been militarily dominated by the US,have been accompanied by the consolidation of supranational entities like ...The New Silk Roads between Asia’s largest economies and regions,like the Persian Gulf,which has until now been militarily dominated by the US,have been accompanied by the consolidation of supranational entities like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO).With members including China,Russia,India,and Pakistan,some Gulf States are now also interested in membership.This article raises the question of whether the SCO,in light of its members’growing relevance to the Gulf region,carries the strategic potential to replace the American stability-andcommerce-enabling security umbrella there.The answers demonstrate that intra-Asian cooperation in the Gulf is to an extent hostage to a greater intra-Asian rivalry which would likely be perpetuated by the power vacuum following a possible US withdrawal.The SCO’s greatest strategic value for Gulf politics lies in its mediation potential.This stands a higher chance of success if the US military remains present and fosters a spirit of cooperation between itself and the SCO in the Gulf.展开更多
文摘The Saudi-Iranian enmity is a central element in the Middle East’s post-2011 violence.These two countries are at‘Cold War,’backing proxy allies,which fuels many of the region’s conflicts.Hence,any attempt at regional pacification will require mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran by powerful neutral stakeholders.To that end,this paper suggests an initiative by the Persian Gulf’s most important economic partners,China and India,an idea benefiting from their leverage-enhancing hydrocarbon market importance as well as their‘non-aligned status’in the conflict.Using the historical analogy of the 20th century Cold War between East and West as a loose framework,the paper identifies possible diplomatic and institutional mechanisms to achieve a Gulf detente and peace.It argues that these may be found in the historic Helsinki Accords and that a similar approach to the Saudi-Iranian Cold War should be attempted to prevent further regional and global conflict.
文摘The New Silk Roads between Asia’s largest economies and regions,like the Persian Gulf,which has until now been militarily dominated by the US,have been accompanied by the consolidation of supranational entities like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO).With members including China,Russia,India,and Pakistan,some Gulf States are now also interested in membership.This article raises the question of whether the SCO,in light of its members’growing relevance to the Gulf region,carries the strategic potential to replace the American stability-andcommerce-enabling security umbrella there.The answers demonstrate that intra-Asian cooperation in the Gulf is to an extent hostage to a greater intra-Asian rivalry which would likely be perpetuated by the power vacuum following a possible US withdrawal.The SCO’s greatest strategic value for Gulf politics lies in its mediation potential.This stands a higher chance of success if the US military remains present and fosters a spirit of cooperation between itself and the SCO in the Gulf.
