Gulf countries in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is one of the most important countries in the Middle East and the Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia is trying to play a leading role in the Gulf countries.In turn, the Gulf states are trying, and some are even trying, to weaken Saudi Arabia's influence on it, which is not so positively reflected in Saudi Arabia's foreign policy not only in the Middle East but also outside the region.

Often Saudi Arabia tries to change the foreign policy vector of the Gulf countries in its favor and also to make some changes in their attitude, both towards their own Saudi Arabia and towards each other. Nevertheless, some Gulf countries try to act independently of Saudi Arabia, not to be influenced by it (Qatar, Kuwait) and to plan its foreign policy independently.                                     

This attempt by some Gulf countries often ends in fruitfu for them. Often they themselves have some influence on the foreign policy course of Saudi Arabia as well.

The latter, together with various methods, tries to use the "Gulf Cooperation Council" to gain influence in the Gulf countries, through which it often achieves the desired result. The same organization is also used by Gulf countries to influence Saudi policy.It should also be noted that the Gulf Cooperation Council is a nation-wide organization.

Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf states,  which has the  problems with Iran the most.  Their troubled relationships  always differ from those of other countries. Iran is not a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and therefore Saudi Arabia cannot use the organization to influence over Iran.