Amid a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, Saudi Arabia is recalibrating its foreign policy by adopting a bold ‘multi-alignment’ strategy. As it navigates the complexities of great power rivalries, it is redefining its role on the regional and world stage, while at the same time, scaling back its dependence on traditional global powers, including the United States.
To this end, Riyadh is seizing the diplomatic initiative, fortifying economic partnerships, and playing an active role in conflict mediation. This piece outlines the different strategies driving the Kingdom’s foreign policy.
Foreign policy origins
The capture of Riyadh in 1902 was the first major step in King Abdulaziz’s campaign to reclaim control over the Najd region. Through military prowess, tribal alliances, and religious legitimacy, he successfully unified much of the region, including the Najd, the Hejaz (home to the holiest Islamic cities, Mecca and Medina), and other key territories. This unification culminated in the official declaration of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
While the early years of King Abdulaziz’s rule were focused on internal consolidation and state-building, his foreign policy approach later became crucial as global power dynamics evolved, particularly after the discovery of vast oil reserves in the country.
A defining moment in Saudi foreign policy occurred on 14 February 1945 when King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt held a historic meeting on the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal, which set the stage for the long-standing strategic relationship the two nations enjoy till this day. King Abdulaziz granted the US access to Saudi oil reserves in exchange for military protection and support.
This oil-for-security arrangement became a cornerstone of US-Saudi relations, establishing the Kingdom as a key player in global energy markets and positioning it as a key ally in the broader strategy to contain Soviet expansion during the Cold War. Eighty years later, this enduring partnership continues to shape the geopolitical landscape.
Despite Riyadh's longstanding ties with Washington, the relationship has never been exclusive. Saudi Arabia has always tried to foster friendly relations with countries all around the world, and look for partnerships that enhance mutual benefits. More specifically, Saudi Arabia has fostered healthy ties with the European Union, Russia, and China—three major international poles that often serve as counterweights to US policy. Saudi Arabia has nurtured its relationships with these power centres, which have become key partners.
Strategic diversification
However, a multipolar order in which China and Russia have emerged as great powers has prompted the Kingdom to reassess its foreign policy approach, opting to diversify its partnerships.
This shift can be traced back to King Salman's ascension to the throne in January 2015. To this end, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to reduce the country's dependence on oil and ramp up its international engagement—from investing in infrastructure projects around the world and bolstering ties with emerging markets to keeping up with the global energy transition.
From a position of economic strength, Saudi Arabia aims to boost its geopolitical influence, using trade, investment, and energy as a diplomatic chip to shape regional and global dynamics in its favour.
Energy trade is the primary area of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China, but the two countries are also cooperating in numerous other fields such as infrastructure, technology, and investment, as well as some defence cooperation. Russia, meanwhile, is a major oil producer, like Saudi Arabia. Through the OPEC+ framework, the two nations regularly collaborate and consult with each other to stabilise global oil markets.
But apart from nurturing ties with Russia and China, Saudi Arabia is also courting other countries in the Global South. In September of last year, Saudi Arabia welcomed not only the foreign ministers of Russia and China but also India and Brazil to Riyadh, where they discussed areas of cooperation and hammered out deals.
Regional stability
Key to Saudi Arabia's new foreign policy approach is regional stability. Therefore, it is focused on resolving long-standing conflicts. In March 2023, China helped broker Saudi-Iranian rapprochement which helped cool decades of tension. Although international sanctions placed on Iran have limited economic cooperation between the two countries, institutional ties have strengthened with regular diplomatic visits taking place.
Saudi Arabia is also interested in ending the conflict in Yemen. To this end, it has engaged in dialogue with the Iran-backed Houthi group. This engagement culminated in ceasefire talks held in Riyadh in September 2023, which was a huge step forward to reaching a lasting political resolution to the conflict.
Progress was admittedly set back in the aftermath of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel when Houthis began attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This reinforced Saudi concerns over Iran's regional ambitions and its willingness to use proxy groups to attain them.
Despite these challenges, Saudi Arabia remains committed to diplomatic engagement and conflict resolution in Yemen and is working closely with international partners to push for a comprehensive peace framework that brings stability to its southern neighbour while also safeguarding regional security.
In Sudan, Saudi Arabia has been mediating between the warring parties since the conflict erupted in April 2023, conducting several rounds of talks to bring about reconciliation. In July 2024, Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council convened in Saudi Arabia to try to revive peace talks to end the ongoing civil war.
Saudi Arabia has also been engaged in conflict prevention. It has heavily invested in Egypt's security and stability, providing political and economic support to safeguard it from internal strife. It has also helped Syria throughout its civil war and even after the fall of the Assad regime—with an eye towards preventing chaos, limiting foreign interference, and reconstruction.
In Iraq, Saudi Arabia has worked to restore its Arab identity after years of sectarian divisions, foreign influence, and the erosion of state sovereignty. It has also been actively trying to restore stability in Lebanon, reasserting state authority, preserving its sovereignty, strengthening its national armed forces, and supporting the selection of national leaders capable of steering the country away from foreign interventions that have undermined its security and prosperity.
But Saudi Arabia's top priority continues to be Palestine. It understands that regional stability is intrinsically linked to resolving this longstanding issue and that advancing the two-state solution and ending Israeli occupation are two key components to achieving lasting peace. It continues to reiterate its firm and unwavering support for a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Regarding Israel's war on Gaza, Saudi Arabia backs the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings and calls on all parties to abide by international law and adhere to the rules-based order. And Saudi Arabia stands firmly against Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and relocate its 2 million+ Palestinian residents to other countries.
