Saudi Arabia Looks East: Imperatives and Implications. Issue 3 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Azad, Shirzad
• Is Part Of: International spectator. Volume 54:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Saudi Arabia -- looking-East -- Middle East -- Asia -- foreign policy -- trade -- oil; World politics -- 1945-1989 -- Periodicals; World politics -- 1989- -- Periodicals; 909.8305
• DOI: 10.1080/03932729.2019.1643550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0393-2729

Abstract

ABSTRACT: As a critical orientation in Saudi Arabia's interactions with the outside world, 'looking East' has breathed new life into the Arab country's rather mundane and modest foreign policy, long characterised by strong attachment to Western countries, the United States in particular. Despite their explicit intention not to replace pivotal Western allies with Asian partners, the Saudis have fostered closer connections to the East virtually in every area, covering politico-strategic, military, economic, technological, and cultural spheres. The Saudi looking-East drive has, moreover, dovetailed neatly with an equally salient approach among major Asian nations to advance their vastly expanding interests in important Middle East countries.