Book Overview

This book illustrates that the perception of an external threat to the security of Saudi Arabia's national interests is the major factor behind Saudi external alliances.

Given its limited national capabilities, the existence of expansionist and revolutionary regimes in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf, and the nature of Middle East politics, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has little choice but to adopt a balance of power policy by building alliances with regional and great powers.

Although there exists some studies concerned with the foreign policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this is the first comprehensive study that analyzes Saudi foreign policy from an alliance behavior perspective.