Saudi Arabia and the Global Order: A Comparative Analysis of Alignment Strategies Across Three Eras

Abstract

The apparent transformation of the global order from unipolarity to multipolarity marks the birth of a multipolar landscape where competition and rivalries between regional and international powers are very intense. Power today is no longer controlled by a single dominant actor but by multiple states and networks with variable strengths. This shift has paved the way for many countries to move beyond the constraints of traditional alliances and have more freedom to form alliances based on their own strategic interests. Middle powers states, like Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Turkey, and others, have increasingly adopted multi-aligned foreign policy. Multi-alignment foreign policy is an active choice to build cooperative ties with multiple great powers and engage most closely with whichever partner best aligns with their security and economic interests at a given moment. This trend is evident in the radical change in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy. Once defined by its central role in the global energy market and its close alliance with the United States, the Kingdom is now pursuing a more independent, multi-aligned foreign policy. Through an analysis of the evolution of three dimensions of Saudi foreign policy across three global eras, this paper discusses the main drivers behind Saudi Arabia’s shift toward multi-alignment and argues that it is best understood as a deliberate long-term strategic recalibration rather than only a reaction to immediate threats or a form of temporary strategic hedging as argued by other scholars.