Saudi Arabia will host a meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh on March 18 to discuss “ways to support the security and stability of the region.” The gathering, announced via the kingdom’s foreign ministry, follows years of fractured Gulf alliances and rising tensions between Iran, regional neighbors, and global powers. The event underscores Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s bid to reposition Saudi Arabia as a regional mediator, but the absence of concrete details from attendees suggests this is as much about signaling as strategy.
The timing is critical. With the Israel-Hamas war spilling into Lebanon and Iran, Gulf states are recalibrating priorities. Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, brokered by China, has not translated into regional stability. Meanwhile, U.S. credibility in the Middle East has eroded—Washington’s inaction on Israel’s Gaza war alienates traditional backers. By hosting this meeting, Saudi Arabia aims to fill the leadership void, but its success hinges on whether attendees will commit to actionable cooperation or merely endorse platitudes.
Middle East Eye’s coverage leans into the symbolism of Riyadh’s diplomacy while highlighting the risks of another hollow conference. The absence of explicit agenda items—including how to address Yemen, Palestine, or the Houthis—reflects the kingdom’s reluctance to challenge entrenched fissures. Other local media, such as Al Jazeera (lean-left) have reported on regional skepticism toward Saudi overtures, particularly within Gulf Cooperation Council states wary of Iran’s influence. This contrast reveals a broader trend: Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic overtures are both embraced and distrusted within its own backyard.
The meeting exposes a paradox in global power projection. Western allies, including the U.S. and UK, historically shaped Gulf geopolitics through military and economic leverage. But with the U.S. preoccupied by domestic issues and China deepening ties in the region, Riyadh is testing whether it can lead without Western backing. The risk is palpable: Saudi Arabia’s agenda may clash with those of its neighbors, who view Washington’s retreat as an opportunity to resist Saudi hegemony.
The coverage overlooks a central question: Which stakeholders are uninvited? Israel’s absence is glaring, despite its indirect entanglement in many regional disputes. Iran’s participation, if confirmed, would signal a major shift, but its inclusion is unlikely given its hostile posture. The exclusion of key stakeholders limits the meeting’s practical impact, reducing it to a symbolic exercise.
Historically, Saudi-led diplomacy—such as the 2022 Al-Ula Summit—has struggled to sustain outcomes. The 1990 Baghdad Summit, convened after the Gulf War, dissolved without consensus, reflecting persistent regional divisions. If this meeting follows a similar pattern, it will confirm that Saudi Arabia’s “soft power” is limited without resolving hard power imbalances in the region.