Saudi-US negotiations: Prospects and challenges

Speculation rife

Against this backdrop, there is growing talk of negotiations taking place between Washington and Riyadh regarding their bilateral ties and the regional and global developments that have impacted this relationship.

Reports in Western publications are ripe with analysis and predictions on what Riyadh hopes to gain from these talks, the impact that a potential deal will have on the Middle Eastern landscape, as well as what a new US-Saudi relationship could look like.

Given the potentially huge ramifications of these negotiations, Al Majalla chose the Saudi-US talks to be the subject of September's cover story.

Our esteemed contributors will tackle these complex and interconnected negotiations and what they entail, touching upon the possibility of securing a peaceful nuclear programme, as well as an upgraded 'Nato-like' security arrangement.

Al Majalla will also delve into the possibility of Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic ties with Israel as part of an overarching deal. And finally, it will offer an analysis of how such an agreement could affect Riyadh's relationships with Moscow and Beijing.

Are these ambitions attainable? What conditions need to be in place for their realisation? Is this simply a testing of waters or can there be a tangible outcome? What lessons have past experiences taught us? Do these negotiations offer something different than before?

Can Saudi Arabia leverage its strong negotiating position to secure greater benefits for itself and the broader region?

The cover story addresses all these questions and additional ones, with a particular emphasis on Riyadh — the central player and ultimate decision-maker in this matter.

It also offers an analysis of the American position, Israel's internal dynamics, as well as the Palestinian position. The 30th anniversary of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians this month makes the subject matter especially pertinent.   

BRICS, G20 and a new world order

Al Majalla also tackles the agreements that have persisted since World War II that have shaped the region and the challenges accompanying the emergence of a new global order. The upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi on 9 September and the BRICS summit held in South Africa at the end of August are examples of this new global order and its growing role.

The September edition also features an exclusive interview with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served in the Republican administration of Donald Trump.

He shares his views on the policies of US President Joe Biden's Democratic administration. He said that, as a result of its policies, America's allies have seemingly lost trust in Washington and its ability to deter its adversaries.

Pompeo describes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as an "important leader" and says they enjoy a "good" relationship. He also discusses potential American collaboration with Saudi Arabia should the Republicans win in the upcoming US elections.

The edition also features exclusive documents that shed light on the evolving priorities of the United States and Israel in Syria over the last two decades where an emphasis on normalising relations with Damascus during President Hafez al-Assad's tenure has shifted to trying to get the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad to sever its relationship with Tehran.

Artificial intelligence and much more

The September edition also features special coverage on artificial intelligence which serves as a sort of second cover story. Al Majalla looks at how this ground-breaking technology — which is poised to have a tremendous impact on our daily lives — is being received and tackled in the Arab world.

Within this context, we present field investigations, interviews, and articles that encompass the legal, political, social, scientific, and artistic dimensions of artificial intelligence within the Arab world.

To this end, Al Majalla talks to Majid Al-Tuwaijri, the director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) on the Kingdom's plans for AI.

Our profile this month is on Imran Khan, Pakistan's former Prime Minister. It traces his remarkable journey from the world of cricket to the realm of politics, all the way to his imprisonment.

Following the alleged assassination of Yevgeny Prigozhin in Moscow in late August, Al Majalla features an article on his prominent career as the leader of the Wagner group — a Russian-backed mercenary group with a global presence.

We especially look at his role in Wagner's activities across Africa — a continent that has been swept by political upheaval and coups, especially in the past few months.

The September edition of our magazine also features a new exercise where two pages will be dedicated to showcasing opposing views on a particular subject. This month Al Majalla chose to publish an article on the Moroccan perspective and the other on the Algerian one — two neighbouring countries that have a long history of rivalry.

In culture, Al Majalla interviewed a Saudi artist who participated in the Al-Diriyah Biennale, who described it as a momentous occasion, as well as a feature on the Sursock Museum and its enduring ties to Beirut amidst its tumultuous history.

And last but not least, we invite you to embark on a captivating journey through the streets of Amsterdam, delving into the daily lives of its inhabitants and the experiences of its visitors.