Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia

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File:Diplomatic relations of Saudi Arabia.svg

Countries which Saudi Arabia maintains diplomatic relations with.

Politics of Saudi Arabia

File:Emblem of Saudi Arabia (2).svg

File:Flag of the Arab League.svg Member State of the Arab League

* * *

Basic Law

Monarchy

* King and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Salman
* Crown Prince

Mohammed bin Salman

* Deputy crown prince

Vacant

* Allegiance Council
* Succession

Government

* Prime Minister

Salman
* Council of Ministers
* Consultative Assembly

President: Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh

* National Security Council

Legal system

* The Quran
* The Hadith
* Judiciary
* Capital punishment
* Freedom of religion
* Human rights
* Women's rights
* LGBT rights
* Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice

Recent elections

*     * Municipal: 2005
* 2011
* 2015

Administrative divisions

* Regions
* Governorates

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs: Adel al-Jubeir

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Saudi Arabia

* * *

* Nationality law
* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia refers to diplomatic and trade relations between Saudi Arabia and other countries around the world. The foreign policy of Saudi Arabia is focused on co-operation with the oil-exporting Gulf States, the unity of the Arab world, Islamic solidarity, and support for the United Nations.[1] In practice, the main concerns in recent years have been relations with the US, the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Iraq, the perceived threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the effect of oil pricing. Saudi Arabia contributes large amounts of development aid to Muslim countries. From 1986 to 2006, the country donated £49 billion in aid.[2][3][4]

Although a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Saudi Arabia is described as leading the "Pro-Western Camp" of Arab countries, aligned with the U.S. and composed of Egypt, Jordan, and Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia and the United States are close strategic allies and partners. However, the relationship witnessed certain decline during the last years of the Obama administration, but strengthened following the election of President Donald Trump who forged close ties with the Saudi royal family.[5][6][7][8] Sunni Islam is the main religion of Saudi.[9][10] China and Saudi Arabia are major allies, with relationship between the two countries growing significantly in recent decades.[11] A majority of Saudi Arabians have expressed a favorable view of China.[12][13][14] [15][16][17]

As a founding member of OPEC, Saudi Arabia's long-term oil pricing policy has been to keep prices stable and moderate—high enough to earn large amounts of revenue, but not so high as to encourage alternative energy sources among oil importers, or jeopardise the economies of Western countries where many of its financial assets are located and which provide political and military support for the Saudi government.[10] The major exception to this occurred during the 1973 oil crisis when Saudi Arabia, with the other Arab oil states, used an embargo on oil supplies to pressure the US to stop supporting Israel.[18]

Saudi Arabia is a founding member of several multinational organizations, including OPEC, the United Nations, the Arab League. It is also a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Muslim World League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Islamic Development Bank—all of which are headquartered in Saudi. The country plays a prominent role in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and in 2005 joined the World Trade Organization.

According to a UCLA history professor, Saudi Arabia recently has become much more active in terms of foreign and security policy for three reasons: the Arab uprisings of 2010 and 2011, the policies of the Obama administration and the collapse of oil prices.[19]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Islam
* 3 Bilateral relations
* 3.1 Africa
* 3.2 America
* 3.3 Asia
* 3.3.1 Trade relations
* 3.3.2 Labor relations
* 3.4 Europe
* 3.5 Oceania
* 4 Public relations and propaganda
* 5 International organization participation
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

After World War II (1939-1945) and during the Cold War (c. 1947-1991), Saudi Arabia maintained an anti-Communist, anti-secular Arab-nationalist policy, often working with the leading anti-communist power, the United States. Following the 1973 oil crisis, when Saudi Arabia and other Arab oil exporters embargoed the United States and its allies for their support of Israel, oil revenues increased dramatically, and the Kingdom worked to become the leading Islamic state, spending generously to advance Islam and particularly its conservative school (known as Wahhabism). Supporters see this as having purified and unified the Islamic faith; other commentators claim it has eroded regional Islamic cultures. (Examples of the acculturizing effect of Saudi aid can be seen among the Minangkabau and the Acehnese in Indonesia, as well as among the people of the Maldives.[20][21][22][23] The Wahhabi form of Islam is also perceived in the West as a source of Islamist extremism.[24][25]

File:Ivana Trump shakes hands with Fahd of Saudi Arabia.jpg

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and real-estate tycoon and future President Donald Trump in 1985

Saudi Arabia and its oil policy were significant factors in the proxy wars of the cold war prior to the downfall of Soviet Communism in the late 1980s and early 1990. Saudi Arabia helped to finance not just the Afghan Mujahideen but also non-Muslim anti-communists. It also seriously harmed the Soviet Communist cause by stabilizing oil prices "throughout the 1980s, just when the Russians were desperate to sell energy in order to keep up with huge hikes in American military spending."[26]

Following King Fahd's stroke in 1995, Abdullah, then Crown Prince, assumed responsibility for foreign policy. A marked change in U.S.-Saudi relations occurred, as Abdullah sought to put distance between his policies and the unpopular pro-Western policies of King Fahd. Abdullah took a more independent line from the US and concentrated on improving regional relations, particularly with Iran. Several long-standing border disputes were resolved, including significantly reshaping the Saudi border with Yemen. The new approach resulted in increasingly strained relations with the US.[9] Despite this, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia remained close. In 1998 Abdullah paid a state visit to Washington and met with U.S. President Bill Clinton.

In 2003 Abdullah's new policy was reflected in the Saudi government's refusal to support or to participate in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Some US critics[which?] saw this as an attempt by the Saudi royal family to placate the kingdom's Islamist radicals. That same year Saudi and U.S. government officials agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from Saudi soil. After ascending the throne, King Abdullah (r. 2005–2015) followed a more activist foreign policy and continued to push-back on US policies which were unpopular in Saudi Arabia (for example, refusing to provide material assistance to support the new Iraqi government).[9][27] However, increasingly, in common with the US, fear and mistrust of Iran became a significant factor in Saudi policy. In 2010 the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks disclosed various confidential documents revealing that King Abdullah had urged the U.S. to attack Iran in order to "cut off the head of the snake".[28] Saudi Arabia has long since used its alliance with the United States as a counterbalance to Iran's influence in the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia and other Arab states of the Persian Gulf have looked to the United States for protection against Iran.

Relations with the US and other Western countries became further strained by the perception that Saudi Arabia has been a source of Islamist terrorist activity world-wide. Osama bin Laden and 15 out of the 19 September 11 attacks hijackers were Saudi nationals, though some[quantify] officials argue that bin Laden planned this deliberately in an attempt to strain U.S.-Saudi relations,[29] and former Central Intelligence Agency director James Woolsey described Saudi Arabian Wahhabism as "the soil in which al-Qaeda and its sister terrorist organizations are flourishing".[24] Some[who?] in the U.S. Government also believe that the royal family, through its long and close relations with Wahhabi clerics, had laid the groundwork for the growth of militant groups like al-Qaeda ,and that after the attacks had done little to help track the militants or prevent future atrocities.[9]

As announced at the 2009 Arab League summit, Saudi Arabia had intended to participate in the Arab Customs Union to be established in 2015 and in an Arab common market to be established by 2020.[10][30]

Following the wave of early-2011 protests and revolutions affecting the Arab world, Saudi Arabia offered asylum to deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, and King Abdullah telephoned President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt (prior to Mubarak's deposition) to offer his support.[31]

Saudi military forces and their allies became involved in conflict in Yemen (on Saudi Arabia's southern borders) from March 2015 onwards.

## Islam[edit | edit source]

According to the FFGI at Goethe University Frankfurt, wahhabist ideology is spread globally with organisations closely associated with the government of Saudi Arabia such as the Muslim World League (WML) and the World Association of Muslim Youth are actively participating.[32]

According to government-associated paper Ain Al-Yaqeen article in 2002, Saudi government-sponsored projects were active in non-Muslim countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Australia and Asia. These encompassed 210 Islamic centres which were completely or partly funded by the Saudi kingdom, 1500 mosques, 202 colleges and almost 2000 schools. The House of Saud has inaugurated 1359 mosques in Europe.[32]

In February 2019, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman defended Xinjiang re-education camps for Muslims, saying "China has the right to carry out anti-terrorism and de-extremisation work for its national security."[33][34][35] China has allegedly imprisoned up to 2 million Muslims in concentration camps, where they are subject to abuse and torture.[35][36]

## Bilateral relations[edit | edit source]

### Africa[edit | edit source]

Country  | Formal Relations Began  | Notes

|
|

File:Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria |  | See Algeria–Saudi Arabia relations

* Algeria has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Algiers.

File:Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic |  |

* Central African Republic is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Cairo.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in N'Djamena also serves as non-resident embassy for Central African Republic.

File:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde |  |

* Cape Verde is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Rome, Italy.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Dakar also serves as non-resident embassy for Cape Verde.

File:Flag of Chad.svg Chad |  |

* Chad has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in N'Djamena.

File:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt |  | See Egypt–Saudi Arabia relations

* Egypt has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Cairo.

File:Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia |  |

* Ethiopia has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Addis Ababa.

File:Flag of Guinea.svg Guinea |  |

* Guinea has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Conakry.

File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana |  |

* Ghana has an embassy in Riyadh
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Accra

File:Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-Bissau |  |

* Guinea-Bissau is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Algiers, Algeria.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Dakar also serves as non-resident embassy for Guinea-Bissau.

File:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya |  | See Kenya–Saudi Arabia relations

* Kenya has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Nairobi.

File:Flag of Libya.svg Libya |  |

* Libya has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Tripoli.

File:Flag of Mali.svg Mali |  |

* Mali has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Bamako.

File:Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi |  |

* Malawi is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Kuwait City.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Nairobi also serves as non-resident embassy for Malawi.

File:Flag of Mauritius.svg Mauritius |  |

* Mauritius has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Pretoria also serves as non-resident embassy for Mauritius.

File:Flag of Madagascar.svg Madagascar |  |

* Madagascar has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia is accredited to Madagascar from its embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

File:Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco |  | See Morocco–Saudi Arabia relations

* Morocco has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Rabat.

File:Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia |  |

* Namibia is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Cairo.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Lusaka also serves as non-resident embassy for Namibia.

File:Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Sierra Leone |  |

* Sierra Leone has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Conakry also serves as non-resident embassy for Sierra Leone.

File:Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal |  | See Saudi Arabia–Senegal relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Dakar.
* Senegal has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.

File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 1994 | See Saudi Arabia–South Africa relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Pretoria.
* South Africa has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.

File:Flag of South Sudan.svg South Sudan |  |

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Kampala whose consular areas also covers South Sudan.
* South Sudan has an embassy in Riyadh.

File:Flag of Sudan.svg Sudan |  | See Saudi Arabia–Sudan relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Khartoum.
* Sudan has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.

File:Flag of Tanzania.svg Tanzania |  | See Saudi Arabia–Tanzania relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Dar es Salaam.
* Tanzania has an embassy in Riyadh.

File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia |  | See Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Tunis.
* Tunisia has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.

File:Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia |  |

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Lusaka.
* Zambia has an embassy in Riyadh

File:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe |  |

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Lusaka whose consular areas also covers Zimbabwe.
* Zimbabwe has an embassy in Cairo whose consular areas also covers Saudi Arabia.

### America[edit | edit source]

Country  | Formal Relations Began  | Notes

|
|

File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina |  |

* Argentina has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Buenos Aires.

File:Flag of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas | September 2022  | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 2022 at the level of an ambassador (non-resident).[37]
File:Flag of Belize.svg Belize | September 2022  | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 September 2022 at the level of an ambassador (non-resident).[38]
File:Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg Bolivia |  |

* Bolivia is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Cairo
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Bolivia by its embassy in Brasilia.

File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil |  |

* Brazil has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Brasília.

File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada |  | See Canada–Saudi Arabia relations

* Canada has an embassy in Riyadh.[39]
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Ottawa.[40]
* See also: Arab Canadians

File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile |  |

* Chile has an embassy in Abu Dhabi which also covers Saudi Arabia.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Santiago.

File:Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica |  |

* Costa Rica has an embassy in Abu Dhabi which also covers Saudi Arabia.
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Costa Rica by its embassy in Lima.

File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia |  |

* Colombia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi which also covers Saudi Arabia.
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Colombia by its embassy in Lima.

File:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba |  |

* Cuba has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Havana.

File:Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador |  |

* Ecuador is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Cairo
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Ecuador by its embassy in Brasilia.

File:Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador |  |

* El Salvador is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Doha
* Saudi Arabia is represented in El Salvador by its embassy in Mexico City.

File:Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala |  |

* Guatemala is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Cairo
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Guatemala by its embassy in Mexico City.

File:Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti |  |

* Haiti has an embassy in Rome which also covers Saudi Arabia.
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Haiti by its embassy in Havana.

File:Flag of Honduras.svg Honduras |  |

* Honduras is represented in Saudi Arabia by its embassy in Cairo.
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Honduras by its embassy in Mexico City.

File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico | 12 September 1952 | See Mexico–Saudi Arabia relations

* Mexico has an embassy in Riyadh.[41]
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Mexico City.[42]
* See also: Islam in Mexico

File:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua |  |

* Nicaragua has an embassy in Cairo which also covers Saudi Arabia.
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Nicaragua by its embassy in Mexico City.

File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru |  |

* Peru has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Lima.

File:Flag of the United States.svg United States |  | See Saudi Arabia-United States relations

Further information: Saudi Arabia lobby in the United States and 2017 United States–Saudi Arabia arms deal

File:Franklin D. Roosevelt with King Ibn Saud aboard USS Quincy (CA-71), 14 February 1945 (USA-C-545).jpg

King Ibn Saud converses with President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board the USS Quincy, after the Yalta Conference in 1945.

File:Saudi Arabia LA Consulate-General bldg.jpg

A demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabia Consulate General building in West Los Angeles

United States recognized the government of King 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. King Ibn Saud met with the U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on 14 February 1945 in a meeting which lasted three days.[43] The meeting took place on board of the USS Quincy at the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal.[43][44] The meeting laid down the basis of the future relations between two countries.[45]

In 1951, under a mutual defence 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. The United States is one of Saudi Arabia's largest trading partners and closest allies and has had full diplomatic relations since 1933 and they remain strong today. However, Saudi Arabia's relationship with the United States has been put under pressure since late 2013 following the United States backing down from its intervention in the Syrian Civil War and the United States thawing relations with Iran. The international abduction of American children to Saudi Arabia provoked sustained criticism and resulted in a Congressional hearing in 2002 where parents of children held in Saudi Arabia gave impassioned testimony related to the abduction of their children. Washington based Insight magazine ran a series of articles on international abduction during the same period highlighting Saudi Arabia a number of times[46][47][48][49]

Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia were strained after the September 11 attacks in 2001,[according to whom?] 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 2,973. 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 of 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 who wanted to look at background files of the hijackers or to interview the hijackers' families.[citation needed]

File:Secretary Clinton Meets With King Abdullah.jpg

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 2012

In his first formal television interview as U.S. President, Barack Obama addressed the Muslim world through an Arabic-language satellite TV network Al-Arabiya. He expressed interest and a commitment to repair relations that have continued to deteriorate under the previous administration.[50] The American envoy to the region is former Sen. George J. Mitchell.

On 20 October 2010, U.S. State Department notified Congress of its intention to make the biggest arms sale in American history – an estimated $60.5 billion purchase by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The package represents a considerable improvement in the offensive capability of the Saudi armed forces.[51]

The U.S. was keen to point out that the arms transfer would increase "interoperability" with U.S. forces. In the 1990–1991 Gulf War, having U.S.-trained Saudi forces, along with military installations built to U.S. specifications, allowed the American armed forces to deploy in a comfortable and familiar battle environment. This new deal would increase these capabilities, as an advanced American military infrastructure is about to be built.[52]

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and consulates-general in Houston, Los Angeles and New York City.[53]
* United States has an embassy in Riyadh and consulates-general in Dhahran and Jeddah.[54]

See also: United States withdrawal from Saudi Arabia

File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay |  |

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Montevideo.
* Uruguay has an embassy in Riyadh.

File:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela |  |

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Caracas.
* Venezuela has an embassy in Riyadh, as well as Jeddah.

### Asia[edit | edit source]

Country  | Formal Relations Began  | Notes

|
|

File:Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan |  |

* Afghanistan has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Kabul.

File:Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia |  | See Armenia–Saudi Arabia relations

* The two states have not established diplomatic relations.

File:Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan | 24 February 1992 | See Azerbaijan–Saudi Arabia relations

* Azerbaijan has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Baku.

File:Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain |  | See Bahrain–Saudi Arabia relations

* Bahrain has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Manama.

File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh |  | See Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia relations

When Bengali nationalists began a war of liberation against the Pakistani state, Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan and opposed calls for the independence of Bangladesh. Saudi Arabia saw the Bengali nationalists as opposing a Muslim state and thus opposing Islam. Saudi Arabia provided extensive financial and political support to Pakistan during the conflict. The pro-Soviet, secular and socialist policies of the regime of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, also antagonized the anti-Communist Saudis. Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh formally established diplomatic relations in 1975–76, after the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by pro-Islamic military officers. The military regimes of Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad took steps to forge strong commercial and cultural ties with Saudi Arabia. Since the late 1970s, a large number of both skilled and unskilled Bangladeshi workers have moved to Saudi Arabia; the number of Bangladeshis living in Saudi Arabia today exceeds 2.7 million. As one of the most populous Muslim countries, Bangladesh is a major source of Hajj pilgrims. Saudi Arabia has become a major source of financing and economic aid to Bangladesh.[55]

File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China | July 1990 | See China–Saudi Arabia relations

File:Belt and Road Initiative participant map.svg

Countries which signed cooperation documents related to the Belt and Road Initiative

The People's Republic of China and Saudi Arabia established official diplomatic relations in July 1990.[56] Sino-Saudi diplomatic and economic relations grew closer in the 2000s. In January 2006, King Abdullah was the first ever Saudi head of State to visit China. His visit was reciprocated by Chinese President Hu Jintao in April of the same year. In February 2009, Hu visited Saudi Arabia a second time, to "exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern" with King Abdullah.[57]

Following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Saudi Arabia was the largest aid donor to China, providing close to €40,000,000 in financial assistance, and an additional €8,000,000 worth of relief materials.[57] In 2008, Sino-Saudi bilateral trade was worth €32,500,000,000,[56] making Saudi Arabia China's largest trading partner in Western Asia.[58] In the first quarter of 2010, Saudi oil export to China has reached over 1,000,000 barrels (160,000 m3), exceeding export to USA.[59]

In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Saudi Arabia, have signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang region.[60][61]

File:Flag of India.svg India |  | See India–Saudi Arabia relations

Saudi Arabia is the one of largest suppliers of oil to India. India's booming construction industry and rising affluence has created greater demand for goods and services thereby boosting Indian industrial growth. Saudi Arabia has contributed aid to India after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake.

File:Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia |  | See Indonesia–Saudi Arabia relations

Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Jakarta, while Indonesia has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate in Jeddah. Both countries are the member of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and G-20 major economies. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have long been close allies. Indonesia sent the largest hajj pilgrims among Muslim countries. The balance of trade is heavily in favor of Saudi Arabia, because of its oil and gas exports to Indonesia. There is more than 600,000 Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia. Migrant worker abuse and death sentences faced by Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia are the main problems that have strained diplomatic relations between two countries.

File:Flag of Iran.svg Iran |  | See Iran–Saudi Arabia relations

See also: Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Saudi Arabia-Iran relations have been strained throughout history due to the differences between Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. Although Saudi Arabia and Iran are Muslim majority nations, their relationship is fraught with tension, suspicion and hostility. Various attempts have been made to improve the relationship, though none have had lasting success. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran have aspirations for Islamic leadership and both the countries possess a different vision of regional order. Iran, which after the Islamic Revolution strictly followed an anti-US policy, always deemed Saudi Arabia as an agent of the US in the Persian Gulf region that speaks for US interests. Saudi Arabia's concerns about Iran on the other side are mainly associated with its plans of expanding influence to other parts of the Persian Gulf region, especially in post-Saddam Iraq, and the quest to build its own nuclear arsenal.[62]

Differences in political ideologies and governance also divided both the countries. For Iran, it is said that there is no place for monarchical regimes in Islam, like the ones seen in Saudi Arabia and also in some other Arab countries. Energy difference is a third source of tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran. While Saudi Arabia, compared to Iran's smaller oil reserves and larger population, can afford to take a long-term view of the global oil market and has an incentive to moderate prices, Iran is compelled to focus on high prices in the short term.[62]

Relations in recent times have been increasing unstable due to the outbreak of crisis in Syria and Iraq in 2014 with the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Despite both countries' efforts to help contain the situation, the Iranian government has at times accused Saudi Arabia of supporting ISIS, which they had done up until the events of June 2014. Relations dropped to an all-time low following the Saudi state's execution of 47 Shia Muslim protesters in January 2016.

File:Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq |  | See Iraq–Saudi Arabia relations

Postwar Saudi policy focused on ways to contain potential Iraqi threats to the kingdom and the region. One elements of Riyadh's containment policy included support for Iraqi opposition forces that advocated the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government. In the past, backing for such groups had been discreet, but in early 1992 the Saudi's invited several Iraqi opposition leaders to Riyadh to attend a well-publicised conference. To further demonstrate Saudi dissatisfaction with the regime in Baghdad, Crown Prince Abdallah permitted the media to videotape his meeting with some of the opponents of Saddam Hussein.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia has opened a new consulate in Baghdad. Earlier in 2016, the Kingdom reopened its embassy in Baghdad after it was closed in 1990.[63]

File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel |  | See Israel–Saudi Arabia relations

A charter member of the Arab League, Saudi Arabia has supported Palestinian rights to sovereignty, and called for withdrawal from the Occupied Territories since 1967. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has changed its viewpoint concerning the validity of negotiating with Israel. It calls for Israel's withdrawal from territory occupied in June 1967 in order to obtain peace with the Arab states; then-Crown Prince Abdullah extended a multilateral peace proposal based on withdrawal in 2002. At that time, Israel did not respond to the offer. In 2007 Saudi Arabia again officially supported a peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Saudi Arabia rejected the Camp David accords, claiming that they would be unable to achieve a comprehensive political solution that would ensure Palestinian Arabs could all move to Israel and the division of Jerusalem. In response to Egypt "betraying" the Arab States and signing peace with Israel, Saudi Arabia, along with all the Arab States, broke diplomatic relations with and suspended aid to Egypt, the two countries renewed formal ties in 1987.

Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The country participates in an active economic boycott of Israel. However, Saudi Arabia recognizes that its ally, the United States, has a strong and supportive relationship of Israel.

Saudi Arabia played an active role in attempting to bring the Palestinians towards a self-governing condition which would permit negotiations with Israel. It has done so primarily by trying to mend the schism between Fatah and Hamas, most notably when King Abdullah invited the two factions to negotiations in Mecca resulting in the Mecca Agreement of 7 February 2007. The agreement soon failed, but Saudi Arabia has continued to support a national unity government for the Palestinians, and strongly opposed Israel's war on Gaza in early 2009.

The Times has reported that Saudi Arabia has tested the ability to stand down their air defenses to allow an Israeli strike on Iran to pass through their airspace.[64] Both nations have denied this.[65][66]

File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan | 1955 | See Japan–Saudi Arabia relations

Relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia were established in 1955. Japan is a major trading partner for Saudi Arabia. In 2006, Japan exported $5.103 million worth of goods to the Kingdom, primarily automobiles, machinery and equipment, and metals. In the same year, Saudi Arabia exported $33.624 million worth of goods to Japan, primarily crude oil and petroleum products. Japan imported 1.3 million barrels a day of Saudi crude in 2006, 31% of the nation's total supply.[67]

File:Flag of Jordan.svg Jordan |  |

Relations with Jordan became strained in the years following the Persian Gulf war. Relations were mended in 1996 when Prince Abdullah visited the country. The countries have since met and discussed international development and the Arab situation.

Saudi Arabia is responsible for ending the Hashemite dynasty's control over Hejaz through their conquests following World War I. Jordan is currently ruled by a branch of the dynasty originally from Hejaz, and installed in Trans-Jordan by the British following the conquest of the region from the Ottomans. It is not entirely apparent how this influences their relationship.

File:Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait |  | See Kuwait–Saudi Arabia relations

* Kuwait has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Kuwait City,

File:Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon |  | See 2017 Lebanon–Saudi Arabia dispute

In 1989, Saudi Arabia along with the United States helped mediate the end of the fifteen-year Lebanese Civil War through the Taif Agreement.[68] Following the assassination of Rafik Hariri, Saudi Arabia called for the immediate withdrawal of the Syrian occupation of Lebanon.[69] Saudi Arabia has opposed Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon as they are seen to be aligned with Iran. On 4 November 2017 Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia, this action led to the 2017 Lebanon–Saudi Arabia dispute.

File:Flag of Maldives.svg Maldives |  |

* Maldives has an embassy in Riyadh
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Malé

File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia |  | See Malaysia – Saudi Arabia relations

Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Riyadh. Relations, both diplomatic and economic, are quite close between the two Muslim-majority Organisation of Islamic Cooperation members. Additionally, there is a sizable population of Malaysian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

File:Flag of Oman.svg Oman |  | See Oman–Saudi Arabia relations

There have been economic, social and political ties between the two countries.[70]

File:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan | 1947 | See Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations

Bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are largely friendly. Pakistan has been called the closest non-Arab ally of Saudi Arabia, or "Saudi Arabia's closest Muslim ally"[71] Saudi Arabia has been rocking the cradle of Pakistani politics, brokering truce among warring leaders, providing asylum to those being exiled and generously lavishing funds on a state strapped for cash.[72]

Diplomatic relations were established at the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and have strengthened considerably owing to cooperation in regional affairs and trade. In 1969 the personnel of the Pakistani Air Force flew the Saudi fighter planes to ward off an invasion from South Yemen. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invested in Pakistan, in many Industries. Since the inception of Pakistan, Pakistan has been playing a major and important role in the development of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has provided assistance in the field of science and technology, infrastructure development and many more fields, Pakistan is providing training facilities to Saudi Armed forces. The Faisal Mosque, the National Mosque of Pakistan in Islamabad, is named in honour of King Faisal and was funded by Saudi Arabia.

File:Faisal mosque2.jpg

Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Due to the Kingdom's continuing support, 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 seven-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.

The WikiLeaks files revealed in 2010 that Saudis are "long accustomed to having a significant role in Pakistan's affairs."[73] One of the Saudi diplomat boasted about the Saudi involvement in Pakistani affairs, stating, "We in Saudi Arabia are not observers in Pakistan, we are participants."[74] Saudi Arabia also complained over President Zardari's alleged corruption and bias against Shiite Iran, thus fearing a Shia triangle stretching from Iraq, Iran to Pakistan.[75] Wikileaks further revealed that, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, then Saudi assistant minister of interior, described the Pakistani Chief of Army staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as a "decent man" and the Pakistani Army as Saudi Arabia's "winning horse" and its "best bet"[76] for "stability".[73] Time reported that "despite the tensions with Zardari's government, military and intelligence links between Riyadh and Islamabad remain strong and close." Time interviewee, Arif Rafiq of an international consulting firm, stated that the cables "demonstrate that the Saudis have deep vested interests in Pakistan and an influence that is so significant that even the U.S. in some way relies on Saudi knowledge of the country."[73]

File:Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine |  |

The internationally recognized PA government maintains cordial relations with Saudi Arabia and has aligned itself with the pro-Saudi bloc in the region, while Saudi Arabia is hostile to Hamas due it its backing from Iran. Despite cordial relations, beginning sometime in the mid to late 2000s, Saudi Arabia has continued to support Palestine, albeit in a limited fashion and has adopted the position of a peaceful settlement between the Arab/Islamic world and Israel, and has been criticized at times of 'betraying' Palestine.

* Palestine has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate in Jeddah.

File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines |  | See Philippines–Saudi Arabia relations

The Philippines–Saudi Arabia relations refers to the bilateral relations of the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 24 October 1969

#### Trade relations[edit | edit source]

In 2012, Saudi Arabia was the 10th largest trading partner of the Philippines, 31st and 8th largest market in the export and import market respectively. Saudi Arabia was also the Philippines' largest trading partner and import supplier, and second largest export market in the Middle East. According to the Saudi government, trade between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines amounted to $3.6 billion in 2011, a bigger figure from compared to the previous year's trade figure amounting to $2.7 billion.

#### Labor relations[edit | edit source]

As of June 2013, there are about 674,000 Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior. A landmark agreement on Filipino household service workers were signed between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. The agreement was the first for Saudi Arabia with a labor-supplying country.[77]

In 2012, about 150,000 Filipino female nurses are working in Saudi Arabia. This accounts for 25 percent of the total number of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Kingdom.[78]

File:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar |  | See Qatar–Saudi Arabia relations

In 1969, an agreement with Qatar was reached about their borders after three years of dispute. A final agreement about the Qatar border was signed in 2001.

After a March 2014 meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced the recall of their ambassadors to Qatar.[79][80][81]

Some financial economists have interpreted the 2014 Saudi–Qatari rift as the tangible political sign of a growing economic rivalry between oil and natural gas producers, which could "have deep and long-lasting consequences" beyond the Middle East-North Africa area.[82]

On 5 June 2017, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations, as well as other ties, with Qatar.[83] Saudi Arabia explained the decision by referring to Qatar's "embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilising the region", including the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaida, Islamic State, and groups supported by Iran in the kingdom's eastern province of Qatif.[84]

File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea | 1963 |

Relations between South Korea and Saudi Arabia were established in 1963. South Korea has an embassy in Riyadh, and a consulate-general in Jeddah.[85][86] Korean International School of Jeddah(KISJ) covers the Korean syllabus and taught subjects in Korean language. In business, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of oil to the Republic of Korea (300,000,000 barrels, 2014) and Number of Koreans living in Saudi Arabia in (2014): 5,215.[87] Also, ARAMCO Korea was established in 2012. In 2016, two-way trade volume reached US$29.04 billion with South Korea exporting cars, electronic goods, steel and other items to Saudi Arabia and importing oil and other petrochemical products from it.[88] Now, South Korea is described as a "core" partner for the Saudi Vision 2030 project, noting progress in joint efforts to flesh out their cooperation scheme to realize the vision.[88]

File:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Sri Lanka | 1974 |

* Sri Lanka has an embassy in Riyadh
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Colombo

File:Flag of Syria.svg Syria |  | See Saudi Arabia–Syria relations

President Bashar Al Assad welcomed King Abdullah Al Saud in Damascus in October 2009. The relations between the two countries have greatly deteriorated in recent years, following the Syrian civil war. On 26 February, Syria blamed the Saudi government for arming the rebels with weapons from Croatia, a charge both governments deny. Due to the ongoing Syrian Civil War, Saudi Arabia closed its embassy in Syria.[89]

File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand | 1957 | See Saudi Arabia–Thailand relations

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand were established in 1957. The country enjoyed a very friendly and strongly strategic partnership[90] The historically friendly and strategic relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia had drastically deteriorated since the 1990s, following the Blue Diamond Affair. Diplomatic missions were downgraded to the chargé d'affaires level and the number of Thai workers in Saudi Arabia plummeted.[90] Saudi Arabia did not issue working visas for Thais and discouraged its citizens from visiting the country. Relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, already strained, plunged to a new low in 2014 following a Criminal Court decision that acquitted five ex-police officers in relation to the murder of a Saudi businessman in 1990.[91] On January 26, 2022, both countries announced they restored full diplomatic relations and have appointed ambassadors.[92] Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Bangkok and Thailand has an embassy in Riyadh.[93]

File:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey |  | See Saudi Arabia–Turkey relations

Turkey was one of the first states that recognised the country in 1926 and had a diplomatic mission in Hijaz.[94] Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate – general in Istanbul.[95] Turkey has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate – general in Jeddah.[96][97] Both countries are full members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). On the other hand, in 1986 Saudi Arabia proposed that Turkey should have ended commercial relations with Iran and that it could compensate Turkey's losses resulting from this.[98]

File:Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates |  | See Saudi Arabia–United Arab Emirates relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai.
* United Arab Emirates has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.

File:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen | June 2011 |  | File:Wiki letter w cropped.svg|

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2011)

|

See Saudi-Yemen Relations

For Saudi Arabia, Yemen has long been a serious national security concern. Relations between the two countries have historically fluctuated with the Saudis having many access points into Yemen via both formal and informal networks. Then Crown Prince Sultan managed the tribal networks for decades but the tribal system is diminishing and the Saudi tribal connections have weakened as a result. While relations with former President Saleh were often stormy, Saudi Arabia considers the Iranian backed Houthis to be a terrorist group and a threat to the stability of not only their kingdom but the entire region. Due to these concerns, Saudi Arabia led an invasion of Yemen in 2015, resulting in an ongoing conflict.

### Europe[edit | edit source]

Country  | Formal Relations Began  | Notes

|
|

File:Flag of Albania.svg Albania |  |

* Albania has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Tirana.

File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria | 10 September 1957 | See Austria–Saudi Arabia relations

* Both countries had diplomatic contact since 7 July 1880, with the opening of an Austrian consulate in Jeddah (then under Ottoman occupation).
* Austria has an embassy in Riyadh.[99]
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Vienna.[100]
* Austria Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties (in German only) Archived 12 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine

File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia | 8 June 1995[101] | See Croatia–Saudi Arabia relations

* Croatia is represented in Saudi Arabia through its embassy in Cairo (Egypt).
* Saudi Arabia isn't represented in Croatia but citizens that need any assistance are advised to contact Saudi Arabia embassy in Sarajevo (BiH).
* Both countries are members of the United Nations.

File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | 1960  | See Cyprus–Saudi Arabia relations

* Cyprus is represented through its honorary consulate in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia is represented through its embassy in Nicosia.
* Both countries are members of the United Nations.
* [2]

File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark |  | See Denmark–Saudi Arabia relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Hellerup, Copenhagen.[102]
* Denmark has an embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[103]

File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | 23 September 1969  |

* Finland has an embassy in Riyadh and an honorary consulate general in Jeddah.[104]
* Saudi Arabia opened an embassy in Helsinki around 2008[105]
* Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about relations with Saudi Arabia

File:Flag of France.svg France | 1926 | See France–Saudi Arabia relations

* France has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate-general in Jeddah.[106]
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Paris.[107]

File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany | 1929 | See Germany–Saudi Arabia relations

* Germany has an embassy in Riyadh[108] and a consulate general in Jeddah.[109]
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Berlin[110] and a consulate general in Frankfurt am Main.
* German Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Relations between Germany and Saudi Arabia

File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece |  | See Greece–Saudi Arabia relations

* Greece has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Athens.

File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland |  |
File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland |  |

* Ireland has an embassy in Riyadh and an honorary consulate in Jeddah.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Dublin.

File:Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo |  | See Kosovo–Saudi Arabia relations

* Kosovo has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia is accredited to Kosovo from its embassy in Tirana, Albania.

File:Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein | April 2009  |

* The interests of Liechtenstein are handled through the Swiss embassy in Riyadh.[111]
* Saudi Arabia's embassy in Bern also serves as non-resident embassy for Liechtenstein.

File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands |  | See Netherlands–Saudi Arabia relations

* The Netherlands has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in The Hague.

File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | 1961 |

* Norway has had an embassy in Riyadh since 1976.[112]
* Saudi Arabia has had an embassy in Oslo since 2012.[112]

File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland |  | See Poland–Saudi Arabia relations

* Poland has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Warsaw.

File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania |  | See Romania – Saudi Arabia relations

* Romania has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Bucharest.

File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia | 1926 | See Russia–Saudi Arabia relations

* Russia has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Moscow.

File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain |  | See Saudi Arabia–Spain relations

* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Madrid and a consulate in Málaga.
* Spain has an embassy in Riyadh.

File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden |  |

* The 2005 Project Simoom contract on weapon industry cooperation[113][114] was torn up by the Swedish government in 2015.[115]
* Swedish foreign minister Wallström's planned speech[116] for the Arab Union in March 2015 was blocked by Saudi Arabia, after Sweden criticized Saudi Arabia on human rights issues.[117]

File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine | 1993 | See Saudi Arabia–Ukraine relations

* Saudi Arabia recognized Ukraine's independence in 1992.
* Saudi Arabia is represented in Ukraine through its embassy in Kyiv.
* Ukraine has an embassy in Riyadh and an honorary consulate in Jeddah.[118]
* In January 2003, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma made an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-5).svg United Kingdom |  | See United Kingdom-Saudi Arabia relations

The UK has an embassy in Riyadh, consulate in Jeddah and trade office in Al Khobar.[119] Saudi Arabia has an embassy and consulate in London.[120]

### Oceania[edit | edit source]

Country  | Formal Relations Began  | Notes

|
|

File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia |  | See Australia–Saudi Arabia relations

* Australia has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Canberra.

File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand |  |

* New Zealand has an embassy in Riyadh.
* Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Wellington and a consulate-general in Auckland.

File:Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands | July 2014 |

Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 2014.[121]

File:Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga | December 2020  | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 15 December 2020.[122]
File:Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu | August 2022  | Both countries established diplomatic relations in August 2022.[123]

## Public relations and propaganda[edit | edit source]

The reputation of Saudi Arabia in the West has always been controversial due to its record of human rights abuses and the Saudi involvement in the Yemen civil war.

The United Kingdom and United States have become a major centre for public relations (PR) supporting the Saudi regime. Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East and north Africa programme at Chatham House said that Saudi Arabia had embarked upon a "wide-ranging PR campaign focused on the UK and the US" since 2016, which involved English-language content targeting a British audience. This PR, linked with the support of Theresa May in arms sales during the war in Yemen. In the UK, media PR depicted Mohammed bin Salman as a reforming prince, and major newspapers ran adverts promoting Bin Salman's 'reform agenda'.[124][125]

This image has been undermined by disappearance and apparent Saudi state-sanctioned murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.[124][125] Following these allegations, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said, "We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation"[126] and a UK Foreign Office spokesman said, "These are extremely serious allegations. We are aware of the latest reports and are working urgently to establish the facts, including with the government of Saudi Arabia." France also sought an explanation as to how an "accomplished and esteemed" journalist such as Khashoggi vanished.[127]

Following the murder of Khashoggi, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel halted the sale of weapons to Saudi. A non-binding resolution was also voted in the European Parliament to "impose an EU-wide arms embargo on Saudi Arabia". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau threatened to cancel a multimillion-dollar defence contract amidst the Khashoggi controversy.[128]

Consulum, a London-based PR firm primarily staffed by former Bell Pottinger employees, has worked on communications programmes with the Saudi Arabian government and PR firm Freud Communications, which has worked with the kingdom in propagating the Saudi Vision 2030 relaunch under Bin Salman, distanced itself from the regime following the disappearance of Khashoggi. Pagefield Global Counsel and Kekst CNC (a London division of French PR company Publicis) have said that they previously worked with the regime but no longer work in Saudi Arabia.

A number of media companies have worked with the Saudi state to promote its overseas image. Bin Salman met Vice Media founder Shane Smith in early 2018 on his tour of the US, and Vice has had a team promoting the country with the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), a Saudi regime-affiliated publishing group and 'organ of soft power'. SMRG has signed a deal with The Independent to launch foreign-language websites (including Arabic) across the Middle East, which has led to concern over potential editorial influence by the Saudi publisher. SMRG also donates to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change to facilitate Tony Blair's work on the Saudi modernisation programme.[124][125]

According to a FARA eFile document filed with the US Department of Justice, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. hired an ex-top lobbyist of the Heritage Foundation for a brief legislative push before the inauguration of 2020 President-elect Joe Biden and his administration. The contract with Off Hill Strategies worth $25,000-per-month was effective from 19 October 2020 through 18 January 2021, two days before the inauguration of President Biden. As per the filing, the PR firm was tasked with serving “federal legislative advocacy and related services to support the Embassy's congressional outreach efforts and further advance bilateral ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States.” During the primary debate of 2019, Biden was quoted as calling Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and promising to end the US arms sales to Riyadh following its alleged use in the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians. Off Hill Strategies has been called the Saudi embassy's first hiring in 2020.[129][130]

## International organization participation[edit | edit source]

Saudi Arabia is member of the ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, ESCWA, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (Applicant)

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Iran-Arab Relations (Saudi Arabia)
* List of diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia
* List of diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia
* Territorial disputes in the Persian Gulf

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## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* Klare, Michael (2004). Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Petroleum Dependency. New York: Metropolitan. ISBN 0-8050-7313-2.
* Jones, John Paul (2007). If Olaya Street Could Talk: Saudi Arabia- The Heartland of Oil and Islam. The Taza Press. ISBN 978-0-9790436-0-4.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* Our enemies, the Saudis. United States relations with Saudi Arabia by Victor Davis Hanson, originally published in Commentary, June 2002.
* Saudi Arabia: 14-Year-Old Boy Faces Execution from Human Rights Watch 27 October 2005.
* Saudi Arabia to host Israel boycott event[dead link] by Michael Freund, published in the Jerusalem Post, 7 March 2006
* Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.
* Embassy of the United States in Riyadh
* Saudi-U.S. Alignment after the Six Day War
* A Saudi-Israeli Deal (an opinion column by Thomas L. Friedman)

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