Analyse
The claim aligns with **decades of U.S.-Saudi strategic cooperation** (e.g., oil security, military alliances like the 1945 Quincy Pact) while explicitly noting Saudi Arabia’s **pragmatic diversification** of alliances. Since at least 2016, Riyadh has deepened economic and energy ties with China—now its **top oil importer** (EIA, 2023)—and joined China-led initiatives like the **Shanghai Cooperation Organisation** (2023) and **BRICS+ dialogues** (2024). MBS’s phrasing mirrors **official Saudi foreign policy statements** emphasizing 'balanced relations' (e.g., 2022 *Saudi Vision 2030* updates). No evidence suggests the U.S.-Saudi relationship is *not* strategic, nor that Saudi Arabia hides its engagements with China.
Achtergrond
The U.S.-Saudi alliance, rooted in post-WWII oil-for-security agreements, has faced strains (e.g., 2018 Khashoggi killing, OPEC+ production cuts) but remains **formally strategic**, per **2023 U.S. State Department reports**. Meanwhile, Saudi-China relations have expanded under MBS, with **$50B+ in 2022 trade** (Chinese Customs) and high-profile deals like **Huawei’s 2023 cloud infrastructure contract** for NEOM. Saudi officials, including MBS, have **repeatedly framed this as non-zero-sum** in interviews (e.g., *The Atlantic*, 2022; *Bloomberg*, 2023).
Samenvatting verdict
Mohammed bin Salman’s statement accurately reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-standing strategic ties with the U.S. while openly acknowledging its diversifying partnerships, particularly with China, as corroborated by official policies and public records.