Saudi Dynamism

Asharq Al-Awsat

16-05-2025

The political, economic, humanitarian, and spiritual dynamism of Saudi Arabia has consistently been leveraged to enhance its regional and international standing and amplify the Kingdom's actions in support of Arab and Islamic neighbors. Arab and regional integration and solidarity (humanitarian, social, spiritual, and economic) have always been the foundation of Saudi Arabia's engagements to the world. It is not simply a state whose role has always reinforced stability; rather, it has presented a model for stability, growth, and diplomacy that others seek to replicate.
When other regional projects ballooned and began to get out of control, Saudi Arabia stood strong. It did not deviate from its pursuit of stability and seek domination, nor did it shift its focus from development to conflict. Riyadh has thereby become an Arab, regional, and international hub for anyone seeking to balance stability and development, which is no longer purely a domestic concern, evolving to become a model that can be applied elsewhere in the region.
Saudi Arabia's role goes beyond efforts to reinforce political stability or stimulate economic growth. Its holistic strategic vision uses both soft power and deterrence to achieve its goals, both within and outside its borders. This vision has anchored the Kingdom's geopolitical position. It is a "pivot state" that is implementing a coherent domestic project and seeking flexible engagement with others, developing a foreign policy that adapts to social shifts at home and shifting power dynamics abroad.
US President Donald Trump may have had this role in mind as he gave his speech at the Saudi-American forum. 'You want respect, and you deserve it,' he said, clearly reflecting the respect that Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to its principles has earned it a rapidly evolving American and international landscape. The Saudi writer Zaid bin Kami pointed this out in his article in Asharq Al-Awsat (Thursday). In 'Saudi Values Through Trump's Eyes,' he points out that: 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not beg for support, nor did it wait for guidance. Indeed, it builds its alliances and positions itself with its own language, with its own tools, and in line with its sovereign considerations.'
Here, sovereignty is not merely a political stance. It reflects an attachment to everything that makes the Kingdom distinct, as well as the coherence of Riyadh's principles and its political vision that prioritizes engagement with its immediate neighbors and strives toward a regional climate conducive to stability and investment. Damascus presents as the clearest example of this role, as can been seen from Washington's position, the presence of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the crucial role that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played in ending Syria's political isolation and paving the way for its reintegration into the international community.
Its solid principles and sovereignty have also been reflected in its engagement with the Palestinian cause, which remains at the center of Saudi policy. Saudi Arabia's distinguished guest has come to understand that this will not change: the establishment of a Palestinian state is the key to a solution, and no future peace process can make progress without a two-state solution. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed this position to his guest, as he has on multiple occasions- his speech before the Shura Council, the Kingdom's diplomatic statements, its ongoing efforts to convene an international conference at the United Nations next month, in coordination with French, Arab, and European partners, to secure international recognition for a Palestinian state.
Accordingly, Saudi dynamism, with its proactive diplomacy, ambitious vision, wealth, vigorous youths, and wise leadership, is not merely the role it is playing, it is the future Saudi Arabia is shaping.