Recent headlines involving Saudi Arabia have painted the Kingdom in a negative light. The country has faced accusations of human rights abuses, censorship, the detention of women’s rights activists, and scandals such as the murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Although these allegations are undeniable, the Saudi government is investing a significant amount of resources in reforming its global image and enhancing its geopolitical prowess. As a result, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could prove to be a force for good in the Middle East and a valuable friend of the West.
One of the main reasons that showcase Saudi Arabia’s alliance with the West is that it presents a strong opposing force to Iran. The two nations have been embroiled in a decades-long struggle that has been exacerbated and influenced by religious differences. Iran is a primarily Shia Muslim nation, while Saudi Arabia is the leading Sunni Muslim globally. Over the past several decades, Muslim-majority countries worldwide have fostered ties with either Saudi Arabia or Iran based on whether they have majority Sunni or Shia domestic populations. Despite these differences, Saudi Arabia has always depicted itself as the birthplace of Islam and the leader of the Muslim world. In 1979, however, the Islamic revolution in Iran took place, aiming to establish a revolutionary theocracy and spread its influence and model across the globe. This threatened Saudi Arabia’s global position, and the two nations have been vying for regional and international influence since then.
In response, Saudi Arabia has teamed up with several of its regional allies, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Bahrain, as well as Israel to undermine Iran’s regional influence. The nations established the “Counterrevolutionary Bloc” (CRB) to serve as a counterweight to alliances between Iran, Qatar, Turkey, and Iran’s proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia also launched a massive campaign against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In 2011, the Arab Spring arrived in Yemen, resulting in the ousting of the country’s long-standing leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. Although democracy and stability were on the horizon for Yemen, the Houthi movement, which advocates for Yemen’s Zaidi Shia Muslim minority. The Iran-backed Houthis exploited a vulnerability when the political transition was taking place and took control of the country’s northern territories and eventually Yemen’s capital Sanaa. As the country plunged into chaos, Saudi Arabia and eight other mostly Sunni Arab states launched a series of air campaigns against the Houthis to undermine growing Iranian influence in the country.
To undermine Iranian regional influence, Saudi Arabia has also backed the rebel movement in Syria, which seeks to overthrow the Turkish President Bashar al-Assad, who Iran and Qatar support. As a result, Saudi Arabia has a vested interest in undermining Assad’s dictatorial rule. In fact, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz was the first prominent Arab leader to condemn the Syrian president’s repression of the 2011 anti-government protests. He was also the first Arab leader to speak in favor of arming the Syrian opposition forces.
Evidently, Saudi Arabia plays a critical and expansive role in undermining Iranian influence in the region. As a result, the nation could have a crucial counterbalancing impact and serve as a valuable partner to Western powers trying to curtail the spread of Iran’s aggressive influence around the world. The nation could also play a decisive role in advocating for regional security and counterterrorism efforts.
However, it is understandable that Western powers may be hesitant to embrace the Kingdom fully. Saudi Arabia’s history with conflict, censorship, human rights abuses, and repression in the region is well known. But, over the past few years, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has begun investing heavily in reforming the country’s image. As part of this, the Saudi government has relaxed numerous restrictions on women in the country, allowing them to drive, attend sporting events, and travel without a man’s permission. As part of MBS’ Saudi 2030 vision, the government has also opened up its nation to foreign tourists and fostered new partnerships to diversify its economy and rehabilitate the nation’s image. The Kingdom has shown that it is possible to maintain religion but also progress as a nation. Experts believe these reforms are only the tip of the iceberg, and soon, Saudi Arabia will play an influential role in alleviating the stranglehold that ultraconservative Islamic values place on Arab societies and helping these communities transition into the modern world.
It is no secret that Saudi Arabia has a checkered and questionable history. However, the nation has emerged as a pivotal counterweight to Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East and worldwide. The Kingdom is also placing significant emphasis on rehabilitating its global image and on embracing and establishing contemporary values in its societies. Saudi Arabia is a vital partner to Western powers and serves as a force for good in the Middle East.
