A word to China, a word to Russia

Long-standing Arab, Gulf and international alliances are based on the principle of deterring any aggressor – whether Arab or otherwise. The ‘International Coalition against Terrorism’ also exists, serving as the foundation for confronting terrorism regardless of its source rather than targeting a certain entity. Based on this, the Houthi actions constitute a clear act of terrorism, carried out as per the directives of Iran.

Hence, the response must be international in scope, because merely issuing statements of condemnation is insufficient. Such inaction poses a threat to regional and global security, particularly regarding energy sources and supply chains. No state has grounds to turn a blind eye or exercise its veto power in the United Nations Security Council, especially when the issue involves combating terrorism or a nuclear program that threatens the whole world, as in the case of Iran.

While international sanctions have already been imposed on Iran, the efforts of Beijing and Moscow to block further sanctions convey a dangerous message to the international community -- that confronting terrorism is prohibited. Both nations maintain trade and economic ties, as well as major projects, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, with the balance of trade tilting in their favor. In light of the ongoing conflict and the economic instability that Iran causes globally, the logical course of action is to penalize Tehran -- not to repeatedly offer it a lifeline -- now that the true nature of its regime has been exposed to the entire world. The argument that the damage inflicted by Iran and its proxies on Arab Gulf states affects only the United States no longer holds water, as it now harms the vital interests of China and Russia as well. Consequently, the conflict is no longer just between Washington, Beijing and Moscow. It has shifted to involve China, Russia and the GCC states, as if there was a deliberate intent to abandon the long-term gains that both nations previously obtained from the region.

The question now arising among people in the region is: What do Russia and China offer us, given that they are forsaking their interests with us for the sake of the meager scraps they receive from Iran? It is crucial to acknowledge the sentiments of the GCC citizens who rely on their allies to activate joint defense agreements and actively combat terrorism, rather than just issuing diplomatic statements without substance or solution. The move of Moscow and Beijing to end the UN Security Council sanctions mandate on Iran will further inflame regional conflict in the near future. It provides a lifeline to the Ayatollah regime, enabling the latter to resume sowing chaos in Iraq and Lebanon through proxies that defy national and international legitimacy. It also gives the Houthi group the green light to launch further attacks on other GCC states and Saudi Arabia – the economic and oil-sector linchpin of the region. This situation also exacerbates global economic turmoil, compounding the effects of the severe inflation already plaguing the whole world – a situation reminiscent of the global economic distress on the eve of World War II.

One must ask: What do the major powers, especially China and Russia, expect from the peoples in this region? Do they realize the trajectory of their massive investments in GCC countries should they persist in their stance regarding the intransigence of Iran? China and Russia bear a responsibility towards the peoples of the region, as well as the Arab and Islamic nations allied with the GCC—an organization that has made meaningful contributions to the world, whereas the opposing party contributed nothing.