Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

State Department Spox: U.S. Not Being Supplanted by China in Mideast as “Some Allege”

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price addressed the China-brokered deal for Saudi Arabi and Iran to restore diplomatic relation during the regular press briefing on March 13, 2023. Image via the U.S. Department of State.

The U.S. State Department dismissed suggestions that China’s brokering of a diplomatic thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia reflects a diminishment of the United States’s influence in the Middle East. Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that: “In any way you look at it, America is deeply engaged with the Middle East.”

Price said the U.S. is in favor of dialogue that reduces tensions in the region and that the Biden administration has supported earlier outreach by Oman and Iraq to bring the two together “every step of the way.” However, he refused to frame the deal as an example of Chinese leadership:

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.