Sep 18, 2026 · 23 min
Saudi Arabia Seeks China’s Help Against Escalating Houthi Attacks
September 18th, 2026: China Is Being Pulled Into Saudi Arabia’s Houthi War & Russia’s Parliamentary Election
The episode connects a widening regional security problem to China’s influence with Iran, while tracking Russia’s wartime politics and shifting U.S. policy.
- 1Saudi Arabia is seeking Chinese assistance as Houthi attacks intensify and missile-defense concerns grow.
- 2Beijing is pressing Iran to restrain the Iran-backed Houthis, drawing China deeper into the conflict.
- 3Russia’s tightly controlled parliamentary election coincides with a new House-passed sanctions package headed to President Trump.
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Saudi Arabia’s appeal to China shows how Houthi attacks are drawing Beijing into a conflict involving Iran and Red Sea security.
The brief
Saudi Arabia is appealing to China as Houthi attacks intensify, raising questions about Beijing’s willingness to use its relationship with Iran to influence the conflict.
The central tension is practical as well as diplomatic: Riyadh wants help with missile defense, while China is trying to persuade Iran to restrain the Houthis.
The episode then turns to Russia’s tightly controlled wartime parliamentary election, where the United Russia Party remains central to the political system.
A separate U.S. policy shift toward Venezuela and potentially Colombia broadens the briefing beyond the Middle East and Russia.
The episode closes on a new House-passed Russia sanctions package headed to President Trump, adding pressure to an already tightly managed political landscape.
HouthisListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.