The Thailand file!

Hussein Shobokshi With an increase in “political investment” by Saudi Arabia in the Asian continent to build bridges of confidence with the countries of the region, it seems logical that Saudi Arabia needs to do the work of complete “inventory” with all the Asian countries for a diplomatic and comprehensive breakthrough. There are significant signs of this growing realization and perhaps one of the most important indicators is Saudi Arabia’s openness to India after years of cautious reservations. It is clear that Saudi Arabia has strongly decided that its economic weight in the Asian continent is to be strategic and influential. The Asian continent comprises giant and complex forces and it is imperative to keep good relations with these influential blocs. China and India are important, while Japan and South Korea are two economic motors of effective growth. But one cannot ignore the group of Asian giants that is integrated into an economic bloc of ASEAN states, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and others. Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relations with all these states is normal and it is keen to strengthen the relationship with those states with the exception of Thailand, with which there is a deadlock for more than three decades since the crisis came to light. Thailand is an important country in Southeast Asia, and Saudi Arabia has had good economic relations with them in the past. Its skilled workers are employed in Saudi Arabia, as well as its products are widely used and are accepted in Saudi Arabia. Despite the prevention and travel ban on Saudis to Thailand, there are some Saudis who travel for business purposes to this country and there are those who travel for treatment and holidays without facing any kinds of problems there. Commercially, Thailand is an important country and it houses many industrial headquarters for auto industry and service centers. It has become a great attraction for qualified medical talents and it is a point of convergence for some of the specialized treatment centers in the Asian continent. Today, Saudi Arabia’s leadership and its influential position is noticeable. It needs to rise above the politics, analyze the Thailand file and open a new chapter with the country to treat it as a friendly state, like rest of the nations which has common interests. We can learn great lessons about the improved and growing ties between Japan, Germany and Vietnam with the United States of America, who were the bitterest enemies not so long ago. It’s time the new Saudi leadership reflected and created an opportunity to improve the relations that soured over time and closed the old file. This attitude would be befitting Saudi Arabia today.