Introduction:
Prince Turki Al Faisal delivered an address at the Harvard Kennedy School, discussing Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy doctrine after the Arab awakening.

Saudi Arabia’s Regional and International Role:
Saudi Arabia’s stability and influence position it to play a significant regional and international role. The kingdom has turned outward to address regional concerns while maintaining internal safeguarding.

Islam’s Central Role:
Saudi Arabia, as the cradle of Islam, has an important role in representing the religion globally. Islam is central to Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy and its efforts to maintain stability and security.

Economic Strength:
Saudi Arabia’s GDP represents a significant portion of the Middle East-North Africa region’s economic output. The Saudi stock market and listed companies contribute to the region’s market capitalization. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency holds substantial foreign exchange reserves. Saudi Aramco is the world’s largest oil producer, exporter, and holder of petroleum reserves.

External Security Challenges:
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a pressing issue. Iraq faces challenges in ensuring security and stability after the devastating war. Iran presents domestic stability issues and challenges. Arab nations have undergone revolutions and uprisings, destabilizing governments and nation-states.

Saudi Arabia’s Goal:
Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen allies in the region and assist neighbors in maintaining stability. The kingdom believes peace and conflict resolution are primary objectives for the next decade.

Achieving Peace:
Saudi Arabia emphasizes cooperation, trust, dialogue, mutual respect, and engagement to achieve peace. The kingdom takes the lead in negotiations between conflicting parties and nations.

Progress as a Security Issue:
Saudi Arabia sees progress in political, economic, and social areas as vital for security. Peace and prosperity are seen as interconnected goals.

Iran:
Saudi Arabia views Iran as a potential nuclear threat due to its petroleum reserves and role as the custodian of the holy mosques and the birthplace of Islam. Saudi Arabia only has two concerns about Iran: preventing it from developing nuclear weapons and ending its meddling in other countries. Iran has previously proposed a zone free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, which Saudi Arabia supports, provided it includes economic rewards, technical support, and a nuclear security umbrella. Saudi Arabia opposes Iran’s meddling in Iraq, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Kuwait, and Lebanon, and expects Iran to respect the internal affairs of other countries.

Iraq:
Iraq has a long history as a pivotal member of the Arab community and has the potential to be a major player in the energy market. Saudi Arabia wants Iraq to be an important force in the Arab world, but it must respect the internal affairs of other countries.

Saudi Arabia’s Concerns About Iran’s Influence in Iraq:
Iraq is a diverse country with potential, but Iranian policies are hindering its progress. After the U.S. invasion, Iran gained significant influence in Iraq, creating a new regional reality. Certain groups in Iraq are beholden to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Khamenei, which Saudi Arabia finds unacceptable.

Saudi Arabia’s Goals for Iraq:
Saudi Arabia wants Iraq to remain an active participant in the Arab world, free from destructive foreign influences. Saudi Arabia seeks to maintain a distance from Iraqi factions due to reservations about the current government. Sending an ambassador to Iraq is withheld due to these reservations.

Specific Example of Iranian Interference:
An Iranian general negotiated with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Shiite and Kyrgyz groups before the formation of the current Iraqi government. Saudi Arabia views such actions as unacceptable and will work to end them.

Saudi Arabia’s Financial Support for Iraq:
Despite Iraq’s debt to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government has pledged to forgive most of it. This financial support is contingent on Iraq ending its sectarian Iran-influenced direction.

Saudi Arabia’s Proposal for Iraq:
Saudi Arabia aims to continue working with the people of Iraq to establish a stable, positive, and independent Iraq within the Arab world. Prince Turki Al Faisal proposes that the Security Council pass a resolution protecting Iraq’s territorial integrity to counter internal and external challenges.

Yemen:
Saudi Arabia views Yemen as a security threat due to the potential for terrorist activities. Al-Qaeda has a strong presence in Yemen, particularly in mountainous areas outside the capital. Extremists have made deals with local tribal leaders for supplies and protection, creating a sanctuary similar to Pakistan’s tribal areas. Saudi Arabia’s response includes spearheading a peaceful transition of power, providing economic and financial support, strengthening borders, increasing counterintelligence efforts, and collaborating with international partners to eliminate terrorist threats.

Lebanon:
Hezbollah’s actions, including preventing scrutiny by an international tribunal, are seen as destabilizing and a threat to the foundations of the nation. Saudi Arabia supports efforts to find those responsible for assassinations, including the late Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri and 22 others. Saudi aid to Lebanon has increased significantly since 2006, focused on reconstruction, education, and countering Iranian influence. Saudi Arabia supports the disarming of Hezbollah and the selection of Tamam Salam as interim prime minister to oversee parliamentary elections.

Syria:
Dialogue between Saudi Arabia and the Assad regime broke down due to differences in addressing the crises in Lebanon and Syria. The Assad regime’s actions in Syria have resulted in over 80,000 deaths, despite an Arab League plan urging the withdrawal of military forces and the release of political prisoners. Saudi Arabia calls for a level playing field between combatants, providing defensive weapons to the Syrian people to defend themselves and bring about a political settlement. The kingdom criticizes the West and the U.S. for dismissing the Syrian people’s plight and emphasizes the need for cooperation and progress to achieve peace in Lebanon and Syria.

Saudi-Egyptian Relations:
Saudi Arabia places great importance on its relationship with Egypt, considering it a close ally with deep historical ties. King Abdullah maintained a close relationship with President Mubarak for over 30 years. Abandoning Egypt during the revolutionary uprising was not and will never be a policy option for Saudi Arabia, which values upholding and defending its values. After Mubarak’s resignation, King Abdullah recognized the new reality and extended friendship to the new leadership. Saudi Arabia provided $4 billion in unconditional grants, loans, and deposits to Egypt’s emerging government, in contrast to conditional loans from the U.S. and EU.

Bahrain:
Bahrain’s geographical proximity and historical ties make it a vital concern for Saudi Arabia. After the 1979 Iranian revolution, Khomeini attempted to export his revolution to Muslim countries, causing violence in Muslim and Shiite communities globally. Iran’s influence in Bahrain is evident through Hezbollah’s presence and ongoing propaganda broadcasts. Opposition leaders in Bahrain have received training in Iran. Saudi Arabia endorsed negotiations between King Hamad and protesters and supported a 10-year economic package of $10 billion to Bahrain. GCC troops were deployed at Bahrain’s request to protect strategic infrastructure, not to engage against protesters. King Hamad has continuously called for negotiations and accepted the conclusions of an independent commission of inquiry into events in Bahrain.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
Israel’s unwillingness to cease colonization and grant Palestinians their homeland is the core reason for the ongoing conflict. The Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by King Abdullah in 2002, remains the only viable peace proposal. It calls for Israel’s withdrawal to its 1967 borders and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia urges Israel to take steps toward peace and justice and supports the Palestinian Authority in building institutions for its people. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest contributor to the Palestinian Authority, despite recent accusations to the contrary.

Saudi Arabia’s Support for the Palestinian Authority:
Saudi Arabia has provided billions of dollars in aid to the Palestinian Authority since the 1960s. In 2007, the Kingdom pledged $500 million for development projects and over five years to fund the Palestinian Authority’s Reform and Development Program. More pledges ranging in the billions of dollars have been made, and the Kingdom has delivered several more billion dollars in recent years for rebuilding and developing Palestine.

Saudi Arabia’s Call for a Two-State Solution:
Saudi Arabia supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. King Abdullah has called on Saudi Arabia and other countries to come up with a Marshall-like plan for the Palestinians, with the objective of establishing a Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia supports UN recognition of a Palestinian state and calls on the U.S. to do the same.

Saudi Arabia’s Role in Energy Security:
Saudi Arabia holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves and possesses 85 percent of the spare production capacity in the world. Saudi Arabia is increasing its production capacity from 10 million barrels per day to 12.5 million barrels per day and plans to reach 15 million barrels per day by 2020. Saudi Arabia’s spare production capacity is the result of decades of planning and investment and demonstrates its commitment to a stable and secure oil market. Saudi Arabia has been and will remain a major supplier of energy to the world for many decades to come.

Saudi Arabia’s Reconceptualization of Energy Production Policy:
Saudi Arabia is reconceptualizing its energy production policy in response to changing global demand. The Kingdom is committed to meeting the rising demand for oil, especially from China and India. Saudi Arabia is also exploring new energy sources, such as solar and wind power.

The Kingdom’s Geopolitical Importance:
Saudi Arabia’s main strategic objective is to support its geopolitical importance by maintaining enough surplus oil output capacity to offset potential global supply disruptions. This is achieved through the OPEC quota system, ensuring sufficient oil exports to meet revenue needs.

Domestic Energy Demands and Renewable Energy:
The surplus oil output capacity allows Saudi Arabia to focus on its economic growth and domestic energy demands. The Kingdom is developing renewable and alternative energy sources to meet these demands. Currently, around 40% of the country’s internal energy needs are met by domestically produced natural gas. The country aims to expand its use of solar, wind, and nuclear energy sources.

Exporting Energy:
Saudi Arabia aims to export not only oil but also excess alternative energy. The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy is leading the efforts in developing renewable energy projects. The first phase of the renewable energy program aims to create 7 gigawatts of new capacity by 2020, primarily from solar power. The second phase targets 54 gigawatts by 2032, making Saudi Arabia a significant green energy generator.

Energy Diversity and Security:
Saudi Arabia recognizes the importance of energy diversity for domestic use and foreign export. It emphasizes the need for a mix of energy sources for strategic, economic, political, social, and environmental reasons. The country aims to contribute to global energy security by helping other nations achieve an ideal energy mix.

Stable and Coordinated Energy Market:
Saudi Arabia believes in maintaining stability in the energy market through coordinated production and pricing policies. This stability benefits both producers and consumers, ensuring a reliable and affordable energy supply. The country is committed to full energy market stability in the coming decade.

Interdependence and International Cooperation:
Saudi Arabia rejects the concept of energy independence and advocates for interdependence. It emphasizes cooperation among nations to achieve a mix of all energy sources. The country is working on adding solar, wind, and nuclear energies to offset its oil and gas consumption. It has established the International Energy Forum and the Joint Oil Data Initiative Archive to foster international energy coordination and cooperation.

Openness and Transparency:
Saudi Arabia is embracing openness as it modernizes, diversifies, and takes on a greater role in global politics and Islam. The country believes in transparency and sharing information to overcome adversarial confrontations between producers and consumers. Saudi Arabia aims to be open internally and externally, promoting a world where nations can stand before each other with nothing to hide and nothing to fear.