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| Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Saudi Arabia |
| Native name | المملكة العربية السعودية |
| Capital | Riyadh |
| Leader title | Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques |
| Leader name | Salman of Saudi Arabia |
| Government | Cabinet of Saudi Arabia |
| Area km2 | 2149690 |
| Population | 35 million (approx.) |
| Currency | Saudi riyal |
Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia describe the diplomatic, economic, security, and cultural interactions between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and states, organizations, and transnational actors worldwide. Rooted in the kingdom’s foundation under Ibn Saud and shaped by control of the Holy Mosque in Mecca, Saudi foreign policy has combined religious stewardship, oil diplomacy, and strategic partnerships. Saudi diplomacy has been marked by balancing ties with Western powers, managing intra-Arab politics, and expanding influence across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Saudi diplomacy traces to the 18th and 19th centuries with the rise of the First Saudi State and the later consolidation under Abdulaziz Ibn Saud following the Battle of Riyadh (1902). Post-1932 foreign engagement accelerated after the 1938 discovery of large oil fields by Standard Oil of California and the 1945 meeting between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ibn Saud aboard the USS Quincy. During the Cold War, Saudi alignment with United States and opposition to Soviet Union influence were reinforced by partnerships with Aramco and involvement in the OPEC founding linked to relations with Venezuela and Iran–Iraq War era policies. The 1973 Yom Kippur War and subsequent oil embargo of 1973 elevated Saudi leverage in Gulf Cooperation Council formation and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries politics, while events like the Iranian Revolution and Gulf War reconfigured regional rivalries.
Saudi bilateral ties span close strategic partnerships and fraught rivalries. With the United States, ties encompass arms deals with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies, coordination on sanctions with the United Nations Security Council, and diplomatic exchanges involving leaders such as Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Relations with United Kingdom include security cooperation with British Army elements and energy links to BP and Shell. Saudi ties with China involve energy purchases by China National Petroleum Corporation and investments under the Belt and Road Initiative, while relations with Russia intersect over OPEC+ arrangements and meetings with Vladimir Putin. Relations with Iran reflect sectarian, geopolitical, and rivalry dynamics intensified after the 2016 diplomatic incident in Tehran and proxy contests in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Saudi engagement with Egypt and Jordan includes support to Hosni Mubarak era institutions and coordination with King Abdullah II of Jordan. In Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti, Saudi investment and security ties compete with United Arab Emirates influence. Relations with Turkey have cycled through cooperation and tensions involving the Arab Spring, the Qatari diplomatic crisis, and disputes over Muslim Brotherhood networks. Saudi links with Pakistan combine religious affinity and military cooperation with exchanges involving Inter-Services Intelligence and defense procurement.
Saudi leadership in the Gulf Cooperation Council drives policy on maritime security in the Persian Gulf, economic integration, and collective responses to crises like the 2017–2021 Qatar diplomatic crisis. Riyadh’s regional posture counters perceived influence of Iran through partner states such as Bahrain and Kuwait and through coalitions like the military intervention in Yemen led by the Saudi-led coalition. Relations within the Red Sea arena involve strategic ports in Yemen and competition with Eritrea and Djibouti over access to shipping lanes alongside multinational operations to secure Bab-el-Mandeb.
Saudi relations with major powers have strategic, economic, and military dimensions. The United States remains a central security patron with basing and arms cooperation, while China’s ascent as a purchaser of Saudi oil and infrastructure partner reshapes balances with visits between Xi Jinping and Saudi leadership. Engagement with Russia on oil production through OPEC+ has practical implications for global energy markets and ties with Vladimir Putin. Relations with the European Union involve trade links with Germany, France, and Italy and disputes over human rights with institutions like the European Parliament. Saudi diplomacy also engages rising powers such as India and Japan through energy contracts and strategic dialogues with leaders like Narendra Modi and Fumio Kishida.
Saudi Arabia participates in the United Nations, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OPEC, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Riyadh has sought leadership within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on issues affecting Muslim communities and has hosted summits like the G20 Riyadh Summit (2020). Saudi delegations engage in UN Human Rights Council debates and have sponsored initiatives at the World Health Organization and International Monetary Fund on development and investment, while also navigating criticism from rights-focused NGOs and member states.
Energy diplomacy centers on Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco, production decisions within OPEC+, and exports to consumers in Asia, Europe, and North America. Saudi sovereign wealth through the Public Investment Fund finances global acquisitions from SoftBank-linked ventures to stakes in Blackstone and Lucid Motors, advancing the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan promoted by Mohammed bin Salman. Trade agreements and investment pacts link Riyadh with China, South Korea, India, and United States firms, while infrastructure projects like Neom and ports connect to regional supply chains and investors such as SoftBank Vision Fund and S&P Global-assessed institutions.
Saudi security partnerships include defense procurement from United States Department of Defense, France’s Dassault Aviation contracts, and joint exercises with UK Armed Forces and GCC partners. Counterterrorism cooperation involves intelligence exchanges with FBI, MI6, and regional services like General Intelligence Directorate (Saudi Arabia), targeting groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Riyadh has hosted multilateral security dialogues on maritime security, ballistic missile threats from Houthis in Yemen, and cooperative frameworks for border control with neighbors like Oman and Iraq.
Category:Foreign relations by country