Saudis joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization as China bromance blossoms
Russia, China and a number of former Soviet states in Central Asia created the SCO in 2001 to counter US hegemony in the region.
DUBAI — Saudi Arabia's Cabinet approved a decision Wednesday to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), inching another step closer to China despite concerns from its traditional ally, the United States.
The memorandum awards the kingdom the status of dialogue partner in the SCO, a political and security union that spans Eurasia and includes China, India and Russia. The SCO is seen as a geopolitical counterweight to the United States and Western powers.
The body was created in 2001 to counter US hegemony in the region, and it expanded later to include India and Pakistan. Iran also joined the union with full membership last year.
The decision by Saudi Arabia to join and acquire dialogue partner status was discussed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the kingdom in December, according to Reuters' sources, who reported that this first step is expected to lead to full membership.
