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The Saudi crown prince’s last tour was successful in its timing and choices, including the events that took place afterward, such as Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi’s visit to Jeddah and then to Tehran, and the understandings between Turkey and Iran.

All of this comes in less than three weeks before US President Joe Biden’s visit to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø on July 15-16, during which it is expected that he will meet King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He is also expected to attend an Arab summit in which the Gulf states, as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, will take part.

In a recent study, the US Council on Foreign Relations pointed out the importance of visiting the Kingdom, stressing the need to reach a new strategic agreement, specifically after the Ukrainian crisis began. The conflict revealed the world’s need for energy sources, especially Saudi oil, after the US and Europe got involved in Ukraine and were economically and militarily exhausted.

This is similar to what happened after the disintegration of Yugoslavia. In addition, the US has tried to persuade Ukraine to join the EU, although the Ukrainian government was ranked among the 10 most corrupt governments in the world. Most Arab states, including the Kingdom, are neutral in dealing with supporters and participants in the Ukrainian crisis.

The Saudis, along with the Arabs, have the manpower and financial ability to achieve miracles, and they can lead the world in less than 100 years.

Dr. Bader bin Saud

President Biden’s trip comes with all of the above in the backdrop, in addition to a looming global economic crisis and upcoming midterm elections back home.

Two years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman revealed his desire to transform the Middle East into a new Europe. His ambition grows in the city of NEOM with a budget of half a trillion dollars. The Saudis, along with the Arabs, have the manpower and financial ability to achieve miracles, and they can lead the world in less than 100 years. All of this will happen through giant economic alliances, the acquisition of transnational companies, and all according to a regional vision similar to the Kingdom’s vision and ambitions.

All that the US can offer to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is already available in Europe, Russia, China and India at lower prices. If the US and its Western allies have succeeded in turning Turkey and Iran against their Arab neighbors, trying to burn their neighbors and disturb them, this does not mean that the Arab summit, in the presence of the US, will be biased toward the option of self-destruction, and to the sectarian alliance in the face of a different other. It is more appropriate to use this summit as an opportunity to replace the gun and the tank with economic investments and diplomatic solutions.

As the political genius Winston Churchill once said, interests are constant and permanent, enmities and friendships change, and constants are always better than variables.

• Dr. Bader bin Saud is a weekly columnist for Al-Riyadh and Okaz, a media and knowledge management researcher, and the former deputy commander of the Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah in ºÚÁÏÉçÇø.