Saudi Arabia’s transformative ‘positive neutrality’ policy

On the occasion of the 94th National Day of the Kingdom of Humanity, the cradle of Islam, Saudi Arabia stands as a remarkable example of how to build a modern state with a profound influence on regional and international affairs.

The Kingdom’s foundations were laid by King Abdulaziz, who deeply rooted it in the earth and nourished it with the values of tolerance and moderation that are inherent in Arab and Islamic traditions. He captured the hearts of his people, earning their love and loyalty through his compassionate, humane vision. This legacy was handed down to his sons, who continued the path of building and development, even in the face of mounting challenges and escalating wars and conflicts.

Today, under the leadership of King Salman and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom seeks to blend authenticity with modernity, ensuring that Saudi Arabia remains a leader on both the regional and international stages, resilient against fierce winds and immune to conspiracies.

Saudi Arabia is now entering a new phase of development and transformation. The Kingdom is undergoing a comprehensive reform revolution as part of the ambitious Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and sources of income, modernize institutions based on the principles of good governance and reinforce values such as accountability, transparency, citizenship, tolerance, moderation and justice. Through internal and external initiatives, the Kingdom also aims to achieve regional and international leadership, positioning itself among the most influential global players.

The Kingdom maintains equal relationships with all major and minor powers, whether dominant or rising

Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami

To achieve Vision 2030’s objectives amid the major shifts occurring on the regional and international stages, especially in light of the ongoing global power struggle for leadership and influence, Saudi Arabia has adopted a policy of “positive neutrality” toward all players. In simple political terms, this policy involves the Kingdom distancing itself from aligning with any particular bloc or alliance and maintaining equal relationships with all major and minor powers, whether dominant or rising.

This neutral stance applies to the Kingdom’s approach to global alliances and coalitions, as well as its position in regional and international conflicts (as evidenced by its role in the Russia-Ukraine war). However, this is not merely “negative neutrality,” but rather a proactive stance that involves forming strategic partnerships with all parties, proposing initiatives to resolve conflicts (as seen in Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Ukraine war and the Gaza conflict), hosting warring factions to mediate crises and end conflicts (such as in the Sudanese crisis) and providing humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of war-affected populations (including Ukrainians, Palestinians, Sudanese and Yemenis).

It is now evident that the policy of positive neutrality stands as one of the main pillars, if not the most significant one, in achieving the ambitious goals of Vision 2030. Through this policy, Saudi Arabia has successfully attained the following milestones:

Firstly, staving off exhausting regional disputes. The Kingdom has embraced its own version of “zero problems” diplomacy. This involves clearing obstacles, neutralizing difficulties and resolving conflicts, all in the pursuit of achieving the ambitious vision laid out by the crown prince.

Secondly, ending the era of dependency. Saudi Arabia has moved beyond reliance on single partnerships by embracing a diversified approach to international alliances. This strategy has strengthened its relationships with rising global powers based on new models of partnership and mutual benefit.

Thirdly, becoming a regional and global hub. Through wise leadership, Saudi Arabia has not only activated its latent strengths, it has also turned them into genuine influencers on the global stage.

Fourthly, gaining global trust and economic influence. Saudi Arabia has seen a sharp rise in international trust, allowing it not only to integrate into the global economy but also become a key stabilizer of it. The Kingdom has also emerged as a neutral and accepted mediator in conflicts between major global powers.

Finally, international recognition and accolades. For example, the Kingdom ranks first globally in terms of public finance efficiency, second globally for gross domestic product growth rate, third in economic resilience in 2023 and first in cybersecurity. It also ranks first among Arab countries in the global artificial intelligence index and second among G20 nations in the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair awards, trailing only the US while being ahead of China.

Such changes can only be navigated by leaders with the ability to handle intricate and sensitive global matters

Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami

The policy of positive neutrality in Saudi foreign policy is a strategic policy and not a tactical policy, considering the international positions that the Kingdom has achieved, the global events it will host and, most importantly, the successes of Vision 2030 under the leadership of King Salman and the crown prince.

Saudi citizens and residents in the Kingdom alike will not forget the famous image of the architect of Vision 2030 at the Future Investment Initiative forum, when the crown prince presented a different visual perception of the comprehensive changes and transformations the Kingdom is undergoing toward a new, more prosperous era in various fields. He held two phones from different generations in his hands to illustrate the extent of the changes in life patterns with the advent of the age of artificial intelligence and smart technologies, which hold special importance in the Saudi vision for preparing a generation of well-trained national citizens in future sciences.

They will also not forget the firm statement made by the crown prince when addressing the pilot of the first Saudi military training aircraft assembled locally: “In the name of God, and with His blessing, fly over the most precious land.” To which the pilot famously responded: “We have placed our trust in God, we’ve launched, and our ambition reaches the sky.”

In conclusion, the policy of positive neutrality marks a significant transformation in the core principles and directions of Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy. Such shifts are often seen as highly complex and challenging by international relations theorists, as they may alter alliances and redefine strategic priorities. These kinds of changes can only be navigated by leaders with exceptional political acumen and the ability to handle intricate and sensitive global matters, as exemplified by past and present Saudi leaderships.

• Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami is the founder and president of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah). X: @mohalsulami