- The US-China rivalry for Saudi Arabia
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Last week, Al Majalla began publishing articles online from the Cover Story of the March edition of our monthly magazine.
The cover story, titled "The US-China rivalry for Saudi Arabia," drew readers in with an analysis of Saudi Arabia's evolving foreign policies by Hesham AlGhannam. On her part, Chinese writer Becky Shen detailed her country’s successful "Belt and Road" Initiative and what Saudi Arabia can learn from the successful project.
Highlighting Japan’s view, Satoshi Ikeuchi detailed his country’s growing assertiveness amid China’s growing global dominance, while Con Coughlin emphasised that China will not take lightly the new defence alliance between Australia, the UK, and the US, known as the Aukus pact, in his weekly Oped titled: “Western nations team up in the face of Chinese dominance.”
On his part, former US ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, explained how Washington is concerned but not alarmed over growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China. And finally, giving Russia’s view, Anton Mardasov, explains how the Ukraine war has seemingly forced Moscow into an awkward alliance with Beijing.
In other political coverage, Khaled Hamadeh provides an in-depth summary of the Middle East’s many maritime routes, uncovering the “invisible war” unfolding in these key waterways — particularly in the Horn of Africa.
Also featured in our politics section, Nikolaos Van Dam, wrote on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Syrian war, posing the question: "Was the Syrian Revolution sectarian?"
Al Majalla also published a selection of culture-focused articles, including Mohammed Rouda’s piece: "World War I film wins Oscar in nod to Ukraine war.” Meanwhile, Shadi Alaa Aldin penned a piece titled: "Claiming and reclaiming Mahmoud Darwish” which highlighted the controversy over Lebanese singer Carole Samaha’s latest pop song which is claimed to have incorporated some of the late Palestinian poet’s prose.
Switching to business and economy news, Khaled Kassar penned an Oped extracting valuable lessons from the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, saying that the incident — which was the most significant global event this week — should serve as a stark warning to the US Federal Reserve.
"Al Majalla"

Saudi Arabia’s evolving foreign policies explained
Saudi leaders understand that taking sides with any major power can negatively impact its social and economic transformation programme and is pursuing more balanced foreign policies

What Saudi Arabia can learn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative
The West's mistaken belief that the BRI is a play by Beijing to boost its military power clashes with China's principle of peaceful development

Pacifist Japan grows more assertive amid Russia, China adventurism
China's growing unilateralism and Russia's invasion of Ukraine turn Tokyo's pacifism around

Washington concerned but not alarmed over growing Saudi-China cooperation
While there have been some major bumps in the road regarding US-Saudi relations, the basis of the relationship has not changed
Robert FordWestern nations team up in the face of Chinese dominance
Con CoughlinSilicon Valley Bank collapse should serve as warning to the Federal Reserve
Khaled KassarFingers on the trigger in global nuclear standoff
Wahid Abdel Maguid
Was the Syrian Revolution sectarian?
It was not a sectarian revolution or war, even though it has some important sectarian components

Claiming and reclaiming Mahmoud Darwish
Prose penned by Palestine's national poet has been used repeatedly since his death but commentators say this endangers its original purpose

The invisible war in Middle East waterways
Al Majalla gives an in-depth overview of several vital waterways in the Middle East that are integral to international security and trade

Moscow and Beijing team up on the Middle East and South-East Asia
Both parties in awkward alliance see mutual benefits and aim to make inroads in areas the US once took for granted

World War I film wins Oscar in nod to Ukraine war
War has long been a fixture of the cinema industry and it is no surprise that amid the Ukraine war, 'All Quiet on the Western Front' wins this prestigious awardrn