Tuesday 25 Mar 2025 @ 15:25
Chatham House
Printable version

Ukraine talks show Saudi Arabia is now a major diplomatic player

EXPERT COMMENT

Donald Trump values his personal relations with Saudi royals and the kingdom is willing to play the role of host. But with prestige comes expectations.

Saudi Arabia is hosting bilateral talks between Russian and US officials this week to discuss prospects for a partial ceasefire in Ukraine and the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. The talks, taking place in Riyadh’s opulent Ritz-Carlton Hotel, come after the Saudis hosted a Ukrainian delegation on Sunday, and highlight the kingdom’s growing role as a host for important international negotiations.

Riyadh is hosting the talks at the request of US president Donald Trump, who has thrust the kingdom into the diplomatic limelight. Whether the current Ukraine talks succeed or fail, Arab states and their populations will now expect Saudi Arabia to play a more dynamic role in resolving regional conflicts and find a solution to the Israel-Palestine issue.

Since Trump’s second term began, he has called upon Saudi Arabia to host talks on three separate occasions, including this week’s negotiations. The kingdom first held talks on 18 February between senior US and Russian officials – the first in three years – and then hosted discussions between US and Ukrainian officials on 11 March following last month’s public disagreement in the Oval Office between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

There are several reasons Trump has chosen Saudi Arabia as the location for such important talks: his penchant for prioritizing personality over process, the kingdom’s role in securing the release of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners, and its willingness to use its ‘good offices’ to facilitate bilateral and multilateral talks.

Click here to continue reading the full version of this Expert Comment on the Chatham House website.

 

Channel website: https://www.chathamhouse.org/

Original article link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/ukraine-talks-show-saudi-arabia-now-major-diplomatic-player

Share this article
RESEARCH EXPERTS EVENTS MEMBERSHIP ACADEMY ABOUT

 

Latest News from
Chatham House

The US dollar’s role in the international monetary system is now dangerously in flux

17/04/2025 12:20:00

The argument that the erosion of the dollar’s global status could benefit the US is gaining traction in Washington. That move would be a needless act of self-harm.

China’s rare earth export restrictions threaten Washington’s military primacy

16/04/2025 11:20:00

Beijing’s ability to prevent US access to rare earths puts Washington’s long-term strategic goals at risk.

President Trump’s tariffs increase pressure on allies to reduce security dependence on the US

16/04/2025 09:20:00

US tariffs add to the sense of an increasingly unpredictable and unreliable partner. Allies in Europe and the Pacific are questioning foundational assumptions about their security arrangements as a result.

X is taking the Indian government to court over content moderation tools. Expect India to win.

15/04/2025 13:20:00

X CEO Elon Musk is close to President Trump at a time when India wants to negotiate on US trade. But X’s case challenges wide-ranging government powers.

South Korea’s domestic tumult risks being exploited by China

14/04/2025 16:10:00

Beijing will see the removal of South Korea’s president and subsequent election as an opportunity to undermine Seoul’s alliances, at a time of rising tensions with the US.

To join or not to join? Norway is edging closer to the EU

14/04/2025 15:25:00

Trump’s trade war has brought Norway even closer to the EU and increased the urgency for it to make a decision about membership.

Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africa’s security

14/04/2025 12:20:00

Despite the bitter exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS and their formation of the rival AES, the destinies of the two blocs remain deeply intertwined.

South Sudan’s shaky peace is at risk of collapse. Can it be saved?

10/04/2025 12:20:00

Recent events have undermined the 2018 peace agreement, raising questions over whether the deal can be resuscitated or if a new way forward is needed.

Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs are likely just the beginning of a longer-term vision

07/04/2025 10:20:00

Amid strident rhetoric and shifting targets, many observers have written off Trump’s tariff agenda either as a thoughtless time bomb that may wreck the global economy or as a negotiating tactic. But they are missing the bigger picture.

Serco Net Zero