News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shockwaves through the Middle East. The fact that China brokered the deal also took many in Washington by surprise, as it adds to worries over how US partners are responding to growing competition between the US and China. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to break down whether this China-brokered deal actually upends Mideast diplomacy and challenges the US, explore Washington’s options moving forward, and look at what ripple effects it could have for the broader region - from the Middle East to the Eastern Mediterranean.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Chinese-Brokered Deal Upends Mideast Diplomacy and Challenges U.S.

The Saudi-Iran deal reflects a new global reality

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