The Geopolitics of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has an estimated population of 32 million, the 40th largest in the world and 6th largest in the Arab world.
Its territory is roughly the size of Turkey, France, Germany and Japan put together.
But much of this territory is desert. Saudi Arabia’s arable land per capita, according to the World Bank, is just 0.1 hectares per person.
The Saudi state is an artefact of Western imperialism, growing out of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.
Ever since, Saudi has fallen prey to sectarian politics and have relied on the support from Britain and the US.
Looking out from Riyadh, the Saudi leadership sees potential border-region threats in almost every direction.
During the Cold war they tried to combat the Shiite Iranians, the Pan Arab Nasserites in Egypt and the Ba’athists in Iraq.
Today Saudi Arabia attempts to project its influence in various ways in countries like Egypt, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria Lebanon and Yemen.
Along its maritime borders the Saudis are insecure, a result of the narrowness of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia is outnumbered in the Gulf even just by the Kuwaitis, Qataris, and Emiratis, with 15 million people combined.
Saudi is also worried about threats from within. Foreign-born labourers outnumbercitizens in many of these Gulf States.
Finally, with a tribalistic power structure and large divided Royal family, Saudi’s leaders constantly face threats from their own blood.
Without the support for Saudi Arabia from an outside power like the US, Saudi would barely be able to survive.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Support our content by donating to fundmypage.com/kjvids
Website – www.kjvids.co.uk
Facebook – www.facebook.com/KJVids
Twitter – www.twitter.com/kjvids2016
Instagram – www.instagram.com/kjvidsofficial
All Rights Reserved. Contact info@kjvids.co.uk if you are interested in licensing our content, advertising or working with us in other ways.
