- Dubbed the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization”, or SCO, the alliance focuses on politics, security, and trade.
- The announcement is a heavy blow to US influence within Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, while strengthening its eastern ties.
Saudi interests have aligned with Russia and China-led SCO pact.
- Beijing is Riyadh’s largest trading partner with bilateral trades surmounting nearly $90 billion in 2021.
- Russia and Riyadh are close allies in the crude oil production policies of OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).