Nasser, Mosaed Abdullah (1990) Principles and policies in Saudi Arabian foreign relations with special reference to the Superpowers and major Arab neighbours. PhD thesis http://theses.gla.ac.uk/4515/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES IN SAUDI ARABIAN FOREIGN RELATIONS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE SUPERPOWERS AND MAJOR ARAB NEIGHBOURS HOSAED ABDULLAH NASSER TO MY FATHER GLASGOW UNIVERSITY MODERN HISTORY DEPARTMENT CONTENTS Introduction 1 Chapter One 8 Political History of Saudi Arabia Chapter Two 45 Saudi Arabia and the United States Chapter Three 175 Saudi Arabia and the Soviet Union Chapter Four 321 Saudi Arabia and Iraq Chapter Five 387 Saudi Arabia and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Chapter Six 436 Saudi Arabia and Egypt Chapter Seven 549 Saudi Arabia and the Yemen Arab Republic Chapter Right 636 Saudi Arabia and the Arab League Conclusion and Recommendations 746 Bibliography - 1 - INmOOOCTION Saudi Arabian foreign policy decisions are made by a small group in private and with little public discussion or explanation. Open debates on issues are not encouraged, particularly those that have a direct relation to the nation's security. No concept of public accountability exists. Secrecy is stressed to ensure internal security, as well as stability in the society. However, foreign policy decisions are not made without considerable thought and time spent in discussing the issues with those the leaders of government believe can make a contribution to their understanding of the problems. The deciSion-making process has the following four characteristics (1) There is a strong link between domestic and foreign policies because of the historical legacy of the state. For this reason, decision making includes members of the royal family and religious establishment. (2) Other groups do participate and wield differing degrees of influence depending on the issue area. (3) ~fuch bargaining occurs hefore an important decision is announced. (4) The process is slow, as the leaders are not preDared to meet crisis - 2 - situations. For this reason, the leadership usually turns to outside powers to settle the problem. In addition to the delay in making a decision, there is also the failure to follow through. These characteristics are influenced by the increasing complexity of Saudi Arabia's regional and global environment, and by the growing demand on the country to playa larger role in global politics. The methods used by the government result more in a reactive rather than a pro-active policy. The Saudis are more likely to react to events, panic in crises, and delay making decisions at the time the decisions should be made. The consequences of the methods used in making foreign policy decisions has created a political environment that varies from country to country, and from situation to situation. Policy decisions are not consistent. Those concerning Arab Islamic Nations will differ significantly from those made when the United States or the Soviet Union is involved. The main goal is to protect the regime, to ensure the monarchy remains in power, the principles of Islam are supported, and stability is maintained throughout the Kingdom. Purpose of the Study Saudi Arabia is encircled by hostile forces. The Saudis find themselves at the intersection of a number of strong crosscurrents. This creates for them a web of involvement with the world that prevents them from - 3 - returning to isolation. With the discovery of oil, the Kingdom entered into a foreign political environment which was not understood, but in which the Kingdom was expected to play a major role whether or not they were prepared to do so. The review identifies the many problems encountered by the government's inconsistencies, and the consequences of using a reactive rather than a pro-active foreign policy decision-making process. The purpose of this study is to review the Saudi Arabian foreign policy, its strengths and wealcnesses, and make recommendations for improving foreign policy decision-making to strengthen the Kingdom's position in the Middle East and the world. Statement of the Problem The role of Saudi Arabia as a regional and international power has changed dramatically over the past few years. From a country whose interests lay almost exclusively in preserving political stability domestically and in its immediate border area, Saudi Arabia has developed into a pmverful influence that extends beyond the Arabian Gulf, into the entire f.1iddle East, as well as into Africa and Asia. Saudi Arabia's foreign policy traditionally has been reactive rather than pro-active which has made foreign policy decisions often ineffective. - 4 - The fact of the frame of reference in which decisions are made - that of keeping the monarchy in power, adherence to Islamic principles, security of the nation, and stability within the society - has had a very negative effect on foreign policy decisions. Foreign policy decisions should be based on strengthening the Kingdom's role in the }liddle East as well as in international politics. Saudi Arabia should contribute more than any other nation towards maintaining a balance of power in the Middle East to maintain peace in the area, and to playa larger role in global politics not only because of its wealth of oil reserves, but because of the influence the government can have in the international marketplace and the development of other Third ,,Jorld nations. Importance of the Subject The history of the Niddle East is filled i.,rith wars, uprisings, revolutions, and the like. Throughout the history of man there never has been a century in which men lived in peace. The first step was taken by King Ahdul Aziz Ibn Saud by unifying the different trihal groups in Arabia. Since the discovery of oil in the fuddle East, the nations have been experiencing rapid change. Theorists argue that such changes can have a destabilizing effect on any nation. In this sense ,ye can ask whether the stability of the monarchy, as a governmental system, is diminishing. The most important issue to recognise is the new forces - 5 - that have been imposed on these nations since they have been forced into global politics. It is the view of some that monarchies are not prepared to deal with these new forces. As a consequence, violence, corruption, and manipulation are expected to continue to exist in the East. ~liddle Comparing political systems with that of Saudi Arabia, it can be seen that others appear to be more stable and even more durable than the Saudi system. lIDless the monarchy is able to deal with external threats and changes taking place internally, the future of the Kingdom could be in jeopardy. It is believed that if foreign policy decisions were made pro actively rather than reactively, the decisions would strengthen the nation's position in the East as well as in the world. ~tiddle Hypotheses It is the intent of this study to test the following hypotheses (1) The foreign policy decision-making process of Saudi Arabia is based on the need to keep the monarchy in power; retention of Islamic principles; the security of the and stability of the Y~ngdom, society. (2) Foreign policy decisions made within this framework have necessitated decisions being made on a crisis-to-crisis basis, forcing policy makers to be reactive rather than pro-active.