Saudi Arabia’s international projection: subtle power in the Middle East

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is a prominent emerging international power, exerting a decisive influence on the key social, political, economic, and security dynamics of the Middle East. The Saudi kingdom is undergoing a period of profound transformation under the leadership of King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who seek to secure the country’s prominent position in a global context of crisis and a regional scenario of heightened uncertainty and tension. The achievement of the ambitious objectives of its foreign policy is implemented following the logic of “subtle power,” which constitutes a new phase in the Arab monarchy’s strategy to consolidate its leadership. This paper analyses Saudi Arabia’s international and regional role during Salman’s reign and Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership in the face of changes in the world order and the status quo in the Middle East. The research describes several distinct stages in the Saudi kingdom’s foreign policy over the last decade, revealing a shift in the Arab power’s approach more recently, as it seeks to exercise more subtle and moderate power to address numerous challenges.