Saudi Arabia is joining an anti-western influence bloc formed by Russia and China in a sign of Riyadh’s deepening ties with Beijing as the US pivots claimed away from West Asia as announced by the State News Agency on Wednesday.

The kingdom’s cabinet approved a plan to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a “dialogue partner” which is a precursor to grant full membership to the citizens.

Formed in the year 2001 by Russia, China, and former Soviet states in Central Asia, the SCO is a political and security bloc of countries that has a hold of much of Eurasia and has expanded to include India and Pakistan with a view and plan to challenge western influenced states in the region. Iran has also signed documents for full membership last year on this same view.

The SCO holds an annual summit to discuss economic cooperation and mutual security which generally focuses on terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Though divergent interests limit the group’s effectiveness, member states are planning a “counter-terrorism exercise” in Russia this August.

Riyadh’s decision to join the bloc comes less than three weeks after a reconciliation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, hailed as a coup for Beijing, which brokered the talks. While Oman and Iraq have hosted previous efforts to restore relations between Shia-majority in Iran and mainly Sunni in Saudi Arabia, the Chinese President, for his offer last year acted as a bridge between the rivals. China’s deepening relations with the Gulf region come as the Biden administration seeks to disengage from West Asia with a view to challenge Beijing’s rising influence.

The US has long served as a security partner for Saudi Arabia and Washington’s withdrawal has prompted its Gulf allies to diversify partners. “I promise to make further contributions to promote peace and stability in Western Asia” stated the De Facto Saudi leader to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in a phone call.