The U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Saudi Arabia Since 2021

Abstract

The United States’ foreign policy toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most significant topics in the study of international relations. It reflects, on one hand, Washington’s interest in the Arab region and its strategic environment, and on the other hand, its focus on key allied states—foremost among them Saudi Arabia, which holds a prominent religious, political, and economic position at both the regional and Islamic levels.

This research aims to analyze the evolution of U.S. foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia in terms of its orientations, determinants, and the tools employed in its implementation. It also highlights the internal and external factors influencing this policy. Furthermore, the study seeks to provide a forward-looking perspective by addressing the core research questions: Why has U.S. foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia evolved? How have its orientations developed? And where might this policy be headed in the near future.

This analysis endeavors to understand the dynamics of balance that the United States seeks to maintain between the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia and its regional interests, on one side, and the values and principles that American foreign policy promotes—particularly in the fields of democracy and human rights—on the other