Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia
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{{Politics of Saudi Arabia}}
[[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] is a [[Non-alignment|non-aligned]] state whose foreign policy objectives are to maintain its security and its paramount position on the [[Arabian Peninsula]], defend general [[Arab]] and [[Islam]]ic interests, promote solidarity among Islamic governments, and maintain cooperative relations with other oil-producing and major oil-consuming countries. Although accused of being tolerant to extremism, the foreign policy is generally pacific and does not advocate belligerence, violent reform or revolution.
Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the [[United Nations]], having signed the [[United Nations Charter]] in [[1945]]. The country plays a prominent role in the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[World Bank]], and Arab and Islamic financial and development assistance institutions. One of the largest aid donors in the world, it still gives some aid to a number of Arab, [[Africa]]n, and [[Asia]]n countries. [[Jeddah]] is the headquarters of the Secretariat of the [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and its subsidiary organization, the [[Islamic Development Bank]], founded in [[1969]].
== Emergence of role in modern diplomacy ==
The first country to establish full diplomatic relations with Hijaz (the name of the Saudi state until 1932) was the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>Ismael, Tareq Y., ''The Communist Movement in the Arab World''. [[New York]]: [[RoutledgeCurzon]], [[2005]]. p. 9.</ref>
== Membership in OPEC ==
Membership in the 11-member OPEC and in the technically and economically oriented Arab producer group--the [[Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries]]--facilitates coordination of Saudi oil policies with other oil-exporting governments. As the world's leading exporter of petroleum, Saudi Arabia has a special interest in preserving a stable and long-term market for its vast oil resources by allying itself with healthy Western economies which can protect the value of Saudi financial assets. It generally has acted to stabilize the world oil market and tried to moderate sharp price movements.
== Israeli-Palestinian conflict ==
A charter member of the [[Arab League]], Saudi Arabia supports the position that [[Israel]] must withdraw from territory occupied in June 1967. Saudi Arabia officially supports a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict but rejected the [[Camp David accords]], claiming that they would be unable to achieve a comprehensive political solution that would ensure [[Palestinian]] rights and adequately address the status of [[Jerusalem]]. Although Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic relations with and suspended aid to [[Egypt]] in the wake of [[Camp David]], the two countries renewed formal ties in 1987.
Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The country participates in an active [[Economic and political boycotts of Israel|economic boycott]] of Israel.
== First Persian Gulf War ==
In 1990-91, Saudi Arabia played an important role in the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]], developing new allies and improving existing relationships with some other countries. However, there also were diplomatic and financial costs. Relations between Saudi Arabia and [[Tunisia]], [[Algeria]], and [[Libya]] deteriorated. Each country had remained silent following [[Iraq]]'s invasion of [[Kuwait]] but called for an end to violence once the deployment of coalition troops began. Relations between these countries and Saudi Arabia have returned to their pre-war status. Saudi Arabia's relations with those countries which expressed support for Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait--[[Yemen]], [[Jordan]], and [[Sudan]]--were severely strained during and immediately after the war. The [[Palestine Liberation Organization]]'s support for Iraq cost it financial aid as well as good relations with Saudi Arabia and other [[Persian Gulf states]]. Recently, though, Saudi Arabia's relations with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority have improved, with the Saudi Government providing assistance for Palestinian Authority.
During and after the Persian Gulf War, the Government of Saudi Arabia provided water, [[food]], shelter, and [[fuel]] for coalition forces in the region. There also were monetary payments to some coalition partners. Saudi Arabia's combined costs in payments, foregone revenues, and donated supplies worth $55 billion. More than $15 billion went toward reimbursing the [[United States]] alone.
Saudi Arabia became one of three countries to offer the [[Taliban]] diplomatic recognition in [[1997]]. An estimated $2 million came each year from Saudi Arabia's major charity, funding two universities and six health clinics and supporting 4,000 orphans; King Fahd sent an annual shipment of dates as a gift.
== Relations with China==
{{main|Saudi Chinese Relations}}
== Relations with the United States==
{{main|Saudi Arabia-United States relations}}
United States recognized the government of King [[Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia|Ibn Saud]] in 1931. In the 1930s, oil exploration by [[Standard Oil]] commenced. There was no US ambassador resident in Saudi Arabia until 1943, but as [[World War II]] progressed, the United States began to believe that Saudi oil was of strategic importance. In 1951, under a mutual defense agreement, the U.S. established a permanent U.S. Military Training Mission in the kingdom and agreed to provide training support in the use of weapons and other security-related services to the Saudi armed forces. This agreement formed the basis of what grew into a longstanding security relationship.
Relations between the US and Saudi Arabia were strained after the September 11 attacks, when nineteen men affiliated with al-Qaeda, including 15 Saudi nationals, hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners, crashing two of the planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing 3,000. Saudi Arabia issued a statement on the day of the terrorist attacks on America's World Trade Center and Pentagon, calling them "regrettable and inhuman." Saudi recognition to the Taliban stopped and as of mid-November 2001, the Bush administration continued to publicly praise Saudi support for the war on terrorism. However, published media reports have indicated U.S. frustration with Saudi inaction. Although 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, publicly the Saudis were not cooperating with Americans wanting to look at background files of the hijackers or interview the hijackers' families.
== Relations with Pakistan ==
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has helped [[Pakistan]] in many fields since Pakistan gained independence in [[1947]]. Since the inception of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has provided Pakistan with assistance in the form of fuel credit, fuel donation, loans, aid, donations, and gifts. Most famous example of Saudi Arabia's relationship with Pakistan is the [[Faisal Mosque]], the [[National Mosque]] of the country in [[Islamabad]], Pakistan. More recently, Saudi Arabia has given [[Pakistan]] hundreds of millions of dollars as a donation for the [[2005]] [[Earthquake]] in Pakistan. In fact, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the number 1 donor, having contributed $600 million.
Other forms of assistance given by Saudi Arabia include providing employment to millions of [[Pakistan]]is over the past 60 years. This has been a blessing for Pakistan in disguise as the workers who worked in Saudi Arabia not only accumulated wealth, when they came back to Pakistan, they led Pakistan's construction boom and introduction of modern goods and items.
Saudi Arabia has also actively promoted Pakistan's social life by funding many social projects like building of Islamic community centres, relief foundations, and mosques throughout Pakistan.
[[Image:Faisal masjid isla galleryfull.jpeg|250px|right|thumb|[[Faisal Mosque]], Islamabad, Pakistan.]]
Due to the Kingdom's continuing generosity, many places in [[Pakistan]] are named after Saudi Kings and Saudi Arabia in general. For example, the city previously named [[Lyallpur]] was renamed [[Faisalabad]] in honor of the late [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia]]. Also, in [[Karachi]], Pakistan, there are neighbourhoods named Saud Colony, Saudabad, Faisal Colony. Also in Karachi, there is an airforce base name [[Faisal Airbase]] named after [[King Faisal]] and also, in the honor of [[King Faisal]], the main business street of [[Pakistan]] is called Sharah-e-Faisal in [[Karachi]].
In 2005, due to passing of [[King Fahd]] of Saudi Arabia, [[Pakistan]] declared a three-day mourning period.
Saudi Arabia also hosted former Pakistani Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] for 8 years while he was in exile. During his stay there, Kingdom held talks with Sharif and even provided him with license to operate business in the Kingdom. It is believed that it was Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which held talks with [[President Pervez Musharraf]] of Pakistan to foster their relationship and to allow Sharif back in Pakistan.
In March 2008, Saudi Arabia donated Pakistan $300 million to help with the economic problems there.
== International disputes ==
{{see also|Territorial disputes in the Persian Gulf}}
Large sections of the boundary with [[Yemen]] are not defined; the location and status of the boundary with the [[United Arab Emirates]] is not final, with the de facto boundary reflecting the 1974 agreement; [[Kuwaiti]] ownership of the islands of [[Qaruh]] and [[Umm al Maradim]] is disputed by Saudi Arabia; but the June 1999 agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the border with [[Qatar]].
== Human rights ==
{{main|Human rights in Saudi Arabia}}
Some nations have expressed concern about [[human rights]] in the country, including prisoners and incommunicado detention; prohibitions or severe restrictions on the freedoms of speech, press, peaceful assembly and association, and religion; the right of citizens to change their government; systematic discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities; and suppression of [[civil rights]]. Foreigners can be imprisoned without trial for forcing others to their religion in public or private.
==Saudi aid and other ethnicities==
Much of Saudi Arabia's aid has gone to poorer islamic countries or Islamic communities in non-Islamic countries.
This "aid" has contributed to the spreading of a uniform and puritanical form of Islam, disregarding the needs and traditions of the different ethnic groups. Therefore, Saudi Arabia has spearheaded the erosion of formerly mellow and colorful Islamic cultures through rigid standardization.
Examples of the acculturizing effect of Saudi aid can be seen among the [[Minangkabau]]<ref>Abdullah, Taufik. ''Adat and Islam: An Examination of Conflict in Minangkabau''. 1966.</ref> and the [[Aceh]]nese<ref>Indonesia's Population: Ethnicity and Religion in a Changing Political Landscape. 2003. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.</ref> in [[Indonesia]],<ref>Ricklefs, M.C. ''A history of modern Indonesia since c.1200''. Stanford. 2001 Stanford University Press.</ref> as well as among the people of the [[Maldives]].<ref>Xavier Romero-Frias, ''The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom''. 1999, ISBN 84 7254 801 5</ref>
Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, [[Yemen]]'s sole dissension among [[United Nations Security Council]] members to protect Kuwaitis by military force lead to the expulsion of thousands of Yemeni guest workers in Saudi Arabia.
==See also==
*[[Iran-Arab relations#Saudi Arabia|Iran-Arab Relations (Saudi Arabia)]]
*[[Diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia]]
*[[List of diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia]]
*[[Territorial disputes in the Persian Gulf]]
==References==
*{{cite book | first = Michael | last = Klare | authorlink = Michael Klare | year = 2004 | title = Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Petroleum Dependency | publisher = Metropolitan | location = New York | id = ISBN 0-8050-7313-2}}
*{{cite book | author=Jones, John Paul| title=If Olaya Street Could Talk: Saudi Arabia- The Heartland of Oil and Islam | publisher=The Taza Press (2007). ISBN 0-97904-360-3 }}
==Notes==
{{reflist|1}}
==External links==
*[http://www.mofa.gov.sa/detail.asp?InServiceID=205&intemplatekey=MainPage Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
*[http://www.victorhanson.com/articles/hanson070002.html Our enemies, the Saudis. United States relations with Saudi Arabia] by [[Victor Davis Hanson]], originally published in [[Commentary (magazine)|''Commentary'']], June 2002.
*[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/10/27/saudia11931.htm Saudi Arabia: 14-Year-Old Boy Faces Execution] from [[Human Rights Watch]] October 27, 2005.
*[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395549420&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Saudi Arabia to host Israel boycott event] by [[Michael Freund]], published in the [[Jerusalem Post]], March 7, 2006
*[http://www.saudiembassy.net/ Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.]
*[http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/ Embassy of the United States in Riyadh]
*[http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2005/issue2/jv9no2a1.html Saudi-U.S. Alignment after the Six Day War]
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E4D81738F930A25752C1A9659C8B63 A Saudi-Israeli Deal] (an opinion column by [[Thomas L. Friedman]])
{{Saudi Arabia topics}}
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