On November 19, 2025, two pivotal diplomatic developments unfolded on the international stage, reflecting shifting alliances and emerging ambitions across Asia and the Middle East. In New Delhi, Afghanistan’s Taliban trade minister, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, arrived for a high-profile visit aimed at rekindling economic ties with India—a move that signals both countries’ efforts to recalibrate their relationships in the wake of deteriorating links with Pakistan. Meanwhile, across the globe, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in the United States for his first official visit since a long period of international isolation, seeking to reposition himself and his kingdom at the heart of global politics and commerce.
Azizi’s trip to India comes at a time when Afghanistan faces mounting challenges in accessing essential goods. Recent border closures with Pakistan, triggered by armed clashes, have left Kabul scrambling for alternatives to secure vital supplies like grains and medicines. According to Reuters, Azizi’s agenda in India was packed: he was scheduled to meet with Indian trade and foreign ministers, as well as local business leaders, to discuss boosting economic cooperation, enhancing trade relations, and creating new investment opportunities. The visit also aimed to explore ways of strengthening Afghanistan’s role in regional transportation networks—a crucial factor for a landlocked country seeking to diversify its trade routes.
India’s involvement in the Iranian port of Chabahar has become a lifeline for Afghanistan. The port offers a strategic alternative for the movement of goods, reducing Kabul’s traditional dependence on Pakistani routes. This logistical pivot is not just a matter of convenience; it’s a geopolitical maneuver that reflects the evolving dynamics in South Asia. Despite India’s refusal to officially recognize the Taliban government since their return to power in 2021, the reopening of its embassy in Kabul earlier this year marked a significant thaw in relations. Both nations, wary of Pakistan’s shifting allegiances and China’s growing influence, appear to be finding common ground out of necessity.
“Afghanistan seeks access to essential goods like grains and medicines due to recent border closures with Pakistan after armed clashes,” Reuters reported, underscoring the urgency behind Azizi’s mission. For India, deepening ties with Afghanistan is not just about commerce; it’s about maintaining a strategic foothold in a region where every move is watched closely by Islamabad and Beijing.
While South Asian diplomacy was being reshaped in New Delhi, the Middle East’s power dynamics were also on display in Washington, D.C. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s arrival in the U.S. marked a dramatic return to the global spotlight after years of being shunned by Western leaders. The 40-year-old crown prince, once vilified worldwide for his alleged role in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi—a killing the CIA concluded was ordered by him—was now being welcomed back into the fold.
According to NBC News, bin Salman’s visit included a meeting with former President Donald Trump, a move interpreted by some as reformist and forward-looking, and by others as an embrace of authoritarianism. The symbolism was hard to ignore. In 2022, President Joe Biden had visited Saudi Arabia and engaged warmly with the crown prince, signaling a shift in U.S.-Saudi relations. Now, Trump was expected to sign a series of economic and defense agreements with bin Salman, including the controversial potential sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
“Bin Salman is now a different figure. Questions about governance and domestic repression remain, but this is a distinct and symbolic moment. He is at the center of what the current U.S. administration wants to achieve in the region,” Michael Wahid Hanna, U.S. Program Director at the International Crisis Group, told NBC News. The proposed F-35 deal is particularly contentious; Israel has long been the only Middle Eastern country with access to this advanced technology. Analysts, such as Andrew Lebar of the Carnegie Endowment, have pointed out that a similar deal with the UAE collapsed over concerns about Israel’s military edge and the risk of technology transfer to China. For now, the announcement is more a signal of intent than an immediate reality.
Another key topic on the table: the potential normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel under the Abraham Accords framework. Trump is eager to see Riyadh join the U.S.-brokered agreements that have already led to diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab states. Yet, skepticism abounds. Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, told NBC News, “The risk for bin Salman is very high, because Saudi Arabia has emphasized that such an action is impossible without Israel’s commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state.” Even if formal recognition is delayed, bin Salman’s role in facilitating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has already earned him significant diplomatic capital.
Economic cooperation is also front and center. Several agreements are expected to be announced during the visit, including multi-billion-dollar Saudi investments in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure and cooperation in civilian nuclear energy. The implementation of a previously pledged $600 billion Saudi investment is also on the agenda. However, critics have raised concerns about the intertwining of Trump’s personal business interests with U.S. diplomacy. The New York Times reported that the Trump Organization’s real estate contracts with Saudi Arabia are under review, and his properties have hosted UFC events with Saudi backing.
Human rights remain a persistent thorn in the relationship. Human Rights Watch reported an “unprecedented increase” in executions in Saudi Arabia, with 241 people executed by August 5, 2025. While bin Salman has relaxed some restrictions on women and opened Saudi society to Western entertainment—hosting comedians like Louis C.K. and Bill Burr in Riyadh—these reforms have been met with skepticism. “These political reforms do not create a genuine space for politics, but they have fundamentally changed Saudi society and transformed the role of religious institutions. Significant social changes have occurred, partly because he operates without serious constraints,” Michael Wahid Hanna observed.
Not everyone is convinced by the crown prince’s charm offensive. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was blunt in his criticism: “Trump is welcoming Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, to the White House. This is a dictatorship that murdered an American journalist for criticizing the Saudi royal family. Unfortunately, we have a president who prefers the Saudi model—a despotic government run by a trillionaire family—over democracy.” Sanders’ remarks echo the concerns of many human rights advocates who fear that economic and strategic interests are being prioritized over accountability and democratic values.
As these two diplomatic dramas unfold, one thing is clear: the global chessboard is being reset. Afghanistan’s outreach to India and Saudi Arabia’s return to the U.S. spotlight both reflect a world in flux, where old alliances are tested and new partnerships forged—not always comfortably, and rarely without controversy.