Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer in the world, apparently wants to join BRICS. The regional grouping of South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, and China has been hailed as a significant challenger to the Western-dominated global system.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had conveyed the kingdom's interest in joining BRICS during his visit to Saudi Arabia.

South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman

In order to compete with US-dominated organisations like the IMF and World Bank, 

the BRICS nations have long urged for the creation of new financial centres.

 The addition of Saudi Arabia to the organisation may aid BRICS in achieving that objective. 

Saudi Arabia has been attempting to deepen its ties with numerous nations throughout the world. 

The president of South Africa, who recently visited the monarchy, just signed accords with it.

 Thus, it all makes sense. The BRICS group's influence on international markets is strengthened by its expansion.

BRICS has established the New Development Bank as an alternative to the IMF and World Bank

The Kingdom has always depended greatly on the United States, on Washington, and its ties there

. But during the past few years, especially the last 10 or so, we've noticed that tension spots are starting to surface. 

We are aware of the pressure that President Biden has applied to the kingdom. He sought to delegitimize the kingdom. 

And now, with this development between oil and Russia, as well as the conflict in Ukraine, we're beginning to observe true schisms.

 And I believe the Kingdom wants to provide itself with options in order to reduce its reliance on Washington. Of course, China and Russia are two very potent contenders on the world stage.

President Biden visited Saudi Arabia and greeted him with a fistbump

It may be acting in its own best interests, but at this time, those interests are somewhat anti-American. 

This is because, following the OPEC decision, which was counter to Washington's wishes, there were a lot of very strong noises coming out of Washington that were essentially intended to punish Saudi Arabia for the decision.

 And that has led many people in the Kingdom to consider that we no longer can rely on the US as an ally and that we need to explore other choices.

Increasing Saudi Arabia's military prowess is the only surefire method to reduce its reliance on the US. 

The fact is that it can buy weapons but cannot win a war because it lacks the necessary skills, logistics, and infrastructure. It doesn't matter what weapons it purchases.

 Saudi Arabia can lessen its reliance on the United States, but it will take time.

Saudi Arabia is heavily reliant on the US for its military technology

President Putin has also made reference to the BRICS global currency. It serves as a symbol for broader initiatives aimed at avoiding a unipolar world order. 

In recent years, BRICS has built the infrastructure necessary to compete with the Washington Consensus.

contingency reserve agreement and the New Development Bank (NDB),

 for instance, that will pit the BRICS and BRICS economies against and against the Washington Consensus.

Saudi Arabia is a significant financial player. Oil is one of its natural resources. I believe it will be another tool in their toolbox for diversifying their foreign contacts, and rather than weakening BRICS, I believe it will strengthen it.

Saudi Arabia has good relations with BRICS countries

The Saudis and Indians have developed incredibly tight ties. The Saudis are a significant trading partner.

 There are significant investment projects underway. India increasingly views the Gulf as a component of its security, therefore I don't think there would be any serious opposition from the Indians to the Saudis entering.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cultivated good relations with Saudi Arabia

The BRICS communities are already divided in very fundamental ways. If you consider China and India to be long-standing rivals, you will see that they do not have the best of ties and frequently clash along their shared borders.

 Despite having intense social, political, religious, and economic rivals, they are still able to work together in the same organisation. 

I believe there is precedent for individuals putting aside their differences and cooperating in the spirit of working toward this larger communal aim, which is to ensure that these economies can prosper, once the membership crisis has been settled.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Saudi is growing closer to Iran

Saudi Arabia has received conflicting messages from Iran. Iran claims that both countries' embassies should reopen one day. 

Tehran urged Saudi Arabia the following day not to rely too heavily on Israel. So the issue is, is Iran genuinely attempting to mend fences with its biggest foe in West Asia?

Saudi Arabia and Iran have a long history of conflict. Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran have been engaged in proxy conflicts throughout West Asia. at Yemen. Iran supports the Houthi insurgents. They are at war with the Saudi-backed administration.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been involved in a proxy civil war in Yemen

In other regions of West Asia, Iran has supported both Shiite political parties and armed organisations. Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq are all battlegrounds in the two sides' covert conflict. 

However, is it possible that the ice between the two powers will melt? Saudi Arabia was forewarned against depending too heavily on Israel by the Revolutionary Guard's top commander in Iran. 

"You are depending on a disintegrating Israel, and this will be the end of your age", Hussein Salami stated.

The support of the Abraham Accord by Riyadh was mentioned in this context. 

In September 2020, Israel inked agreements with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

 The signature of the accords was mediated by the US. Saudi Arabia made clear that it supports the new relationships even though it still does not formally recognise Israel. Additionally, Israel has stated that it is ready to cooperate militarily with the Gulf states. According to reports, Iran's threat could be an effort to degrade Saudi Arabia.

Mediated by the US, Israel signed a deal with Bahrain and The UAE

The warning to Riyadh might be just another effort to place the blame of protests in Iran on Israel, but it also might be a sincere effort to repair the relationship. "We must coexist because we are Saudi Arabia's neighbours", according to Ali Akbar Belayati. To better address our issues, the embassies of the two nations ought to reopen, he also stated.

After protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in 2016, the embassies were shut down. Since last year, Iran and Saudi Arabia have been in direct communication to heal their differences. 

The two countries have held five rounds of negotiations in Baghdad. In April, the most recent round of negotiations took place.

Saudi Arabia might be joining BRICS

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