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Gulf states step up China diplomacy as Trump’s lame-duck session nears

Oman and Saudi Arabia are deepening diplomatic outreach to Beijing as the outcome of Tuesday’s US midterm elections introduces fresh uncertainty over Washington’s Iran policy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 2, 2026. (Photo by TINGSHU WANG / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

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Oman and Saudi Arabia are both ramping up China diplomacy as Trump's lame duck session nears and the war with Iran lingers with no US victory in sight.

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