Arab-Israeli conflict: Saudi Arabia’s role in the peace process dates to 1991, when it was an observer at the Madrid Conference and participated in the subsequent multilateral workings groups. In 2002, King Abdullah introduced and helped the Arab League adopt the Arab Peace Initiative, which would normalize relations between Israel and the Arab world when the Israeli-Palestinian and Syrian conflicts were resolved on certain stated terms. The Saudis brokered the Mecca Agreement in February 2007, creating a Hamas-Fatah unity government, but these efforts unraveled a few months later when Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. From 2002 through June 2008, the Saudis provided $560.9 million in budget aid to the Palestinian Authority, fulfilling 99 percent of Saudi’s total yearly pledges.
Iran: The Saudi government sees Iran as a challenging regional power and has expressed concerns about Iran’s recent increasing influence in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. The Saudis have attempted to work with Iran in Lebanon and yet remain wary of its intentions. In January 2008, the White House notified Congress of its intention to sell more than $120 million in advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia, as a part of a larger Gulf arms deal. The deal set out to bolster Saudi Arabia, and others vis-a-vis Iran. In March 2007, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made his first diplomatic visit to Riyadh and returned to Saudi Arabia in December to perform the hajj, the first Iranian leader to partake in the Muslim pilgrimage.
Iraq: Saudi Arabia’s main concerns in Iraq are preventing instability from spilling into Saudi Arabia, supporting Iraqi Sunni rights vis-a-vis the majority Shiite population and limiting Iranian influence in Iraq. The participation of Saudi citizens in terrorist attacks in Iraq has damaged the governments’ relationship. Saudi Arabia has yet to follow through on a 2007 pledge to forgive 80 percent of Iraq’s debt, and continues to delay sending an ambassador to Iraq, unlike other Arab countries that have recently sent high profile officials and ambassadors.
Gulf Cooperation Council: The GCC, composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was established in 1981 as a forum for economic, military and political cooperation. Though the forum has made progress in the economic and political spheres, development of regional military ties has lagged. In 2002, Qatari criticisms of Saudi policies in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict further hindered the Council’s development. In September 2007, efforts towards reconciliation began with a meeting between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Saudi King Abdullah.
Jordan: Since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Saudi Arabia has become Jordan’s leading oil supplier. The Saudi government also provides crucial financial support for the Hashemite Kingdom. In 2007, Saudi assistance, totaling more than $565 million, quadrupled U.S. assistance to the Jordanians.
Lebanon: In 1989, Saudi Arabia brokered the Taif Accords ending Lebanon’s 15-year civil war. The Saudi government has strong ties to Sunni leaders and groups in Lebanon, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his son Saad Hariri, head of the Future movement. In addition to its political ties, Saudi Arabia extends key financial support to Lebanon. Saudi leaders attempted to broker a resolution to the 18-month deadlock in Lebanon and played a role in the last-minute shuttle diplomacy that led to the Doha agreement, but Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Al-Thani led those negotiations.
Syria: Syria’s close ties with Iran and Hezbollah have resulted in a contentious relationship with the Saudis. Tensions increased in 2005, with Saudi Arabia calling for Syria to halt its interference in Lebanese affairs one month after Rafik Hariri’s assassination. In 2006, after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal criticized Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad referred to him and other Arab leaders as “half men,” a criticism that continues to scar the relationship. In March 2008, King Abdullah boycotted the Arab summit in Damascus, accusing the Syrians of preventing political progress in Lebanon.
Egypt: Egyptian-Saudi relations have improved and worsened since 1957; deteriorating during the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser, strengthening after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and declining with the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace accords in 1979. In the last two decades, however, the Egyptian-Saudi relationship has evolved into one of cooperation. The two countries share a concern about the growing Iranian influence in the region. In March 2008, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak joined Saudi King Abdullah in leading a boycott of the Arab summit in Damascus, because of their belief that Syria was involved in prolonging the 18-month political impasse in Lebanon.
Afghanistan: Saudi Arabia provided support in the 1980s for foreign fighters known as the mujahedeen in the war against the Soviet Union. From 1996-2001 Saudi Arabia was one of three states to recognize the Taliban’s rule prior to the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia continues to serve an important role in Afghanistan; acting as a crucial link between the current Afghan government and the exiled Taliban. On September 30, President Hamid Karzai called for Saudi mediation in Afghan-Taliban talks and around the same time the Saudis reportedly hosted talks with the Afghan government and Taliban officials.
Pakistan: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have enjoyed a long-time strategic relationship. The Pakistani government served as a conduit for funding and arms sent to the mujahedeen in the 1980s, and Saudi sources allegedly funded the Pakistanis’ nuclear program. Saudi Arabia has served as a mediator in Pakistan’s fractious internal politics, including in 2000 when Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif went into exile in Saudi Arabia. The countries also share strong economic ties; the Kingdom sells oil to Pakistan at discounted prices and nearly one million Pakistanis live inside Saudi Arabia as foreign workers. President Ali Zardari recently sought Saudi help in alleviating Pakistan’s economic crisis, but the Saudi government refused to provide assistance.