A year ago, Saudi Arabia and Israel were nearing a groundbreaking normalization agreement that could have reshaped Middle Eastern alliances and further isolated Iran. However, this week, in a significant shift, Saudi Arabia and Iran conducted their first joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, signaling a possible warming in their historically tense relations.
Saudi military spokesperson Turki al-Malki confirmed to *AFP* that the Royal Saudi Naval Forces had completed a joint naval exercise with Iran and other nations in the Sea of Oman, adding, “no other exercises are being addressed during this period of time.” This collaboration follows the countries’ China-mediated reconciliation in 2022, despite earlier U.S. efforts to broker a Saudi-Israeli normalization through an arrangement similar to the Abraham Accords.
Iran’s navy commander, Admiral Shahram Irani, claimed that Saudi Arabia took the initiative in organizing the drills, reportedly requesting joint exercises in the Red Sea. Commentators have remarked on the unusual nature of the exercise, with Hooman Majd noting, “It’s as if the U.S. and Russia were to hold a joint military exercise,” underscoring the geopolitical implications of the drills.
Regional observers see Saudi participation as a balancing act. Meir Javedanfar, an expert from Reichman University, suggested that Saudi Arabia’s involvement may stem from apprehension about becoming entrapped between Iran and Israel, saying they might want to avoid appearing aligned solely with Israel. Meanwhile, Victoria Coates, a former Trump administration official, described the move as “hedging their bets” amid questions about U.S. commitment to Saudi defense.
The naval exercises also follow recent Iranian exercises with Russia and Oman, where Saudi Arabia and several other nations observed. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has been increasing its strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been engaged since 2015.
Domestically, Saudi leaders appear cautious about further alignment with Israel amid the kingdom’s demands for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Biden administration had been actively pursuing a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal, but Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 is seen by many as an attempt to derail those efforts. Saudi Arabia has since called for a ceasefire in Gaza, and any future normalization with Israel may depend on the outcome of the current conflict.
Senator Lindsey Graham expressed cautious optimism about Saudi-Israeli cooperation, proposing that Saudi Arabia could play a crucial role in rebuilding Gaza post-conflict.
