“The New Europe?”: European Diplomatic History and the Future of the Middle East (Jay Mens and Niall Ferguson)

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On September 10, 2023, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) told a group of investors his ultimate ambition: that “the Middle East will be the new Europe.” He continued: “This is the Saudi war. Before I die, I want to see the Middle East at the forefront of the world.” Less than a month later, the Middle East was indeed at the forefront of global headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. The new Europe? MbS almost certainly meant to invoke Europe’s era of economic leadership, technological prowess, cultural influence, and perhaps also its tourist attractions. When historians hear “Europe,” however, they tend to think of war.

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