How Saudi Arabia’s mBridge Exit Exposes the Limits of China’s Financial Warfare Strategy

AI Summary

Saudi Arabia said it had completed its participation in China-led mBridge more than a year before publicly announcing its exit in September 2026. The article argues that the delayed disclosure and Saudi central bank’s limited proof-of-concept role reveal constraints on China’s financial influence strategy.

On September 19, 2026, Saudi Arabia publicly announced that it had completed its participation in the China-led mBridge central bank digital currency (CBDC) program over a year earlier. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said its participation was primarily limited to mBridge’s proof-of-concept phase, which was completed on May 13, 2025. The delay in this announcement is critical as it demonstrates … Read more The post How Saudi Arabia’s mBridge Exit Exposes the Limits of China’s Financial Warfare Strategy appeared first on Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University.