Some aspects of Saudi Arabia’s interaction with China and India in the 21st century

The relevance of the research topic is due to the transformation of Saudi Arabia into one of the leading partners of India and China in the Persian Gulf. The purpose of the study is to reveal the structural changes in Saudi Arabia’s policy towards China and India. Beijing and New Delhi recognize the role of the House of Saudis in regulating world oil prices and the impact that Saudi Arabia’s hydrocarbon policy has on the economies of Western and Eastern countries. Based on the synchronous-comparative research method, the authors show the shifts of what magnitude can occur in relations between these states, when the elites are able to competently use each other’s considerable capabilities. However, China and India’s relations with Riyadh are determined not only by energy. Trade and economic, investment, military, scientific, and humanitarian spheres are promising areas of dialogue between these countries. It has been proven that there is an important political component in Saudi Arabia’s strategic thinking. The royal family is determined to work with China and India to create an alternative to its relations with the United States and the EU. In this case, the kingdom will be able to minimize Western pressure on issues such as democratization, terrorism, the economic situation, etc. The authors have identified the causes and features of the dynamics of Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement with Asian giants, whose interaction will accelerate in the coming years, but this will not become a panacea for Riyadh, but rather will lead the parties to a difficult a foreign policy choice that they will seek to avoid.