Page 15 - Trends

shoring up its populist appeal — which
could erode with the introduction of new
taxes — and as part of its hopes for its
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crease in female employment.
However, it is much anticipated that
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bring in added revenues for high-cost fa-
cilities built during the days of higher oil
prices. Moreover, it will also enhance the
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help to attract more investments from the
international corridors.
Geopolitically, tensions between
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continue rising as both countries have
waged wars of words and proxies over
Yemen, Lebanon and Syria. The KSA,
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predominantly Shiite country, have a
long-standing and biter enmity based on
regional geopolitical, ambitious and re-
ligious animosities. The nuclear deal of
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its allies, and the storming of the KSA
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While a full-scale shooting war be-
tween the two superpowers appears © Reuters
unlikely at the time of writing, the
possibility cannot be dismissed entire-
ly. The tensions between them and the KSA stands at another crossroads in its relationship with Russia, as President
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continue and, given the other priorities Vladimir Putin labors to restore Russia’s place on the world stage.
discussed here, the proverbial last thing
KSA needs is instability in its geopoliti- more open in the international arena. Also in the geopolitical category, the
cal relationships. )DFHG ZLWK GHFOLQLQJ $PHULFDQ LQYROYH- KSA stands at another crossroads in its
´,QVWDELOLW\ LV QRW LQ WKH EHVW LQWHUHVWV ment in the Middle East and rising ag- relationship with Russia, as President
of Saudi Arabia,” says Lebanon-born Atif JUHVVLYHQHVV RI ,UDQ 6DXGL $UDELD QHHGV Vladimir Putin labors to restore Rus-
Kubursi, economics professor emeritus at friends, explains Kubursi. “They are VLD·V VWURQJ SODFH RQ WKH ZRUOG VWDJH
0F0DVWHU 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG IRUPHU DFWLQJ WXUQLQJ >WR ,VUDHO@ EHFDXVH RI WKH FRP- Putin continues to pursue his own claim
H[HFXWLYH VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV monality of their interest in standing up to global leadership, implicitly rivaling
Economic and Social Commission. WR ,UDQ µ KH VD\V 86 3UHVLGHQW 'RQDOG 7UXPS DQG &KL-
However, the cost could become enor- QD·V 3UHVLGHQW DQG *HQHUDO 6HFUHWDU\ RI
Winds of change mous over time and could be exacted in the Communist Party of China, Xi Jin-
The geopolitical category includes a sur- two parts. “There is going to be a cost,” ping. Saudi Arabia seems to accept that
prise that would have been unthinkable .XEXUVL VD\V ,W PD\ LQFOXGH DQ HURVLRQ RI 0RVFRZ KDV DFKLHYHG LQÁXHQFH LQ WKH
D GHFDGH DJR )RU DQ XQNQRZQ SHULRG RI 6DXGL $UDELD·V UROH DV OHDGHU LQ WKH UHJLRQ UHJLRQ H[SODLQV $QQD %RUVKFKHYVND\D
WLPH .6$ DQG ,VUDHO KDYH EHHQ FRRSHU- as other nations may become uncomfort- ,UD :HLQHU )HOORZ DW WKH :DVKLQJWRQ ,Q-
DWLQJ EHKLQG WKH VFHQHV DQG LQ ODWH able with the new relationship because VWLWXWH ZLWK D IRFXV RQ 5XVVLD·V SROLF\ WR-
reports of their rapprochement become they resent the shift. ward the Middle East.

February 2018 | TRENDS 15