The move reduces ideological leverage in Muslim-majority countries while opening doors to Western and Asian economic ties. Riyadh must balance this strategic realignment to avoid creating a vacuum filled by rivals or radicalized former beneficiaries.
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Washington must pressure regional patrons—especially the UAE—and include Sudanese civil society to forge a viable peace. Without addressing the proxy dimensions and local agency, diplomatic initiatives will fail to halt the humanitarian and strategic crisis.
Riyadh’s recalibration reflects a pragmatic calculation: championing Palestinian rights safeguards its regional legitimacy and leadership role against Iran, while keeping future normalization as leverage. This balances domestic opinion with long-term economic and security partnerships.
Riyadh employs a calculated, risk-averse strategy: using Kurdish relations as a geopolitical tool against rivals while prioritizing state stability. This reflects a core dilemma of balancing offensive opportunities against the defensive need to maintain regional status quos.