Amid escalating regional tensions, Riyadh has adopted a firm and unequivocal stance: it will not permit the use of its airspace or military bases for any potential attack against Iran. This position, formally communicated to the United States, reflects a political outlook grounded in strategic foresight and a steadfast commitment to national interest.
In a Middle East defined by complexity and interdependence, the spectre of open conflict threatens to engulf the entire region. Saudi policymakers understand this risk with clarity and regard regional stability as an essential pillar of national development.
This stance arises from a nuanced understanding of international partnerships. Cooperation with global powers is shaped around specific, clearly defined objectives aimed at addressing identifiable challenges. It bears no resemblance to entanglement in a broader regional war whose goals, scope, and consequences remain undefined. Strategic ambiguity and opaque decision-making transform such involvement into an incalculable risk.
Entering a war without a clear grasp of its objectives, parameters, or likely outcomes runs counter to the principles of sound governance, which demands measured steps and long-term vision. Caution in the face of escalation is, therefore, a mark of responsibility—not hesitation.
Saudi Arabia has long adhered to a doctrine that rejects the use of its airspace for conflicts in which it is not a direct participant—whether against Iran or other regional actors. This policy is part of a wider foreign policy approach rooted in sovereignty and a refusal to be drawn into conflicts that serve external agendas. As Saudi Arabia advances its ambitious national transformation agenda, it recognises that military escalation would undermine developmental progress, redirect resources, and dilute strategic focus.
