BRICS or Washington? Saudi Arabia’s Balancing Act Reaches Breaking Point
As tensions escalate between the U.S. and the BRICS economic alliance, Saudi Arabia finds itself walking a geopolitical tightrope — and increasingly under pressure to define its position.
While Riyadh was one of the first countries invited into BRICS during the bloc’s ambitious expansion push, it has yet to fully formalize its membership. That hesitation may no longer be neutral. With Washington hardening its stance against China and BRICS-related initiatives, Saudi Arabia’s silence is beginning to speak volumes.
President Trump’s administration has taken a confrontational approach since returning to power, slapping massive tariffs — including a threatened 150% levy on BRICS members if they pursue a dollar alternative. China, already hit with U.S. import duties reaching 245%, remains at the heart of the dispute.
Caught between its largest oil client and its top military and technology partner, Saudi Arabia now faces difficult choices. According to diplomatic sources, the kingdom attended a recent BRICS meeting but is reportedly concerned about triggering backlash from Washington at a time when sensitive negotiations are unfolding.
Despite public appearances of neutrality, Riyadh’s inaction may be signaling a quiet calculation: that full BRICS participation could jeopardize its U.S. alliance more than it could benefit its eastern partnerships. For now, the kingdom appears to be playing for time — keeping its energy ties with China intact while avoiding a direct challenge to American economic dominance.
Whether this balancing act can hold remains to be seen. But with Saudi Arabia still technically outside the BRICS core, it may be positioning itself as the one major power able to work both sides — at least until the standoff turns into a choice.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
