Saudi Arabia’s Changing Role Amidst Middle Eastern Shifts
As Iran’s influence wanes, Saudi Arabia is stepping up to fill the power vacuum in the Middle East. Experts say this change is marked by a shift in relationships with former rivals and a more independent approach to foreign policy.
Javed Ali, a former National Security Council official, noted that since the Iranian revolution in 1979, both Iran and Saudi Arabia have competed for influence among Muslims. The new vision of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is significantly different from traditional approaches.
Saudi Arabia’s recent activities in places like Yemen and Turkey have sparked discussions about whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is still aligned with U.S. interests. Reports indicate that Turkey is currently looking to join a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, signed just four months earlier.
Michael Rubin from the American Enterprise Institute highlighted years of frustration with U.S. policies as a key factor affecting Saudi decisions. He pointed out that past U.S. administrations ignored attacks on Saudi territory, which has cultivated disappointment in Riyadh.
Rubin criticized the Biden administration for removing the Houthi terror designation, suggesting it was a politically motivated decision that pushed Saudi Arabia to seek other alliances with Russia and China.
Despite concerns about ideological shifts, researcher Salman Al-Ansari argues that Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy is focused on stability and development. He believes the country’s recent outreach to Turkey demonstrates an effort to ease tensions in the region, promoting cooperation instead of conflict.
Al-Ansari emphasized that Saudi Arabia does not support Islamist movements and maintains a firm stance against the Muslim Brotherhood, which it labeled a terrorist organization in 2014.
The situation is particularly complex in Yemen, where Saudi forces oppose the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, while the UAE supports Southern separatists. Recent military actions have seen the Yemeni government reclaim territory from separatists, signaling deepening rifts in strategy between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Rubin warns that supporting groups in Yemen could lead to long-term risks for Saudi Arabia, potentially strengthening Islamist factions that may turn against the kingdom in the future.
As Saudi Arabia carves out a new diplomatic path, the U.S. faces pivotal questions: will this expansion of Saudi influence stabilize the region or upset the balance of power, challenging long-standing alliances?
