DUBAI: Saudi Arabia should be invited to join the Group of Seven nations as the organization adapts to a changing global order, according to a column published in the Daily Telegraph by former UK prime ministerial representative to Saudi Arabia Ken Costa.
Costa argued that while the G7 was created in the aftermath of the 1970s oil crisis, the world has changed dramatically since then, with new economic and geopolitical powers emerging. Despite those shifts, he said the group remains largely unchanged and no longer reflects the realities of global influence.
The columnist said Saudi Arabia has a stronger case for membership than other countries that have been suggested as potential additions to the bloc, citing the Kingdom’s growing diplomatic influence and its role as a leading power in the Middle East.
Costa pointed to Saudi Arabia’s importance in global energy markets, its efforts to improve relations between Iran and other countries, and its position as a bridge between China and the West. He also highlighted the Kingdom’s influence within OPEC+ and its ties to major powers including the United States, China and Russia.
He argued that recent conflicts in the Middle East have underscored the continued strategic importance of the region and the need for Western nations to maintain close partnerships with key Arab states.
