Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key middle power, leveraging niche diplomacy to expand its global influence. This study examines how the Kingdom strategically employs mediation, religious diplomacy, humanitarian aid, energy leadership, and sports diplomacy to shape regional and international dynamics....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | World |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/65 |
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| author | Mordechai Chaziza Carmela Lutmar |
| author_facet | Mordechai Chaziza Carmela Lutmar |
| author_sort | Mordechai Chaziza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key middle power, leveraging niche diplomacy to expand its global influence. This study examines how the Kingdom strategically employs mediation, religious diplomacy, humanitarian aid, energy leadership, and sports diplomacy to shape regional and international dynamics. Unlike great powers, middle powers focus on specialized areas where they hold a comparative advantage, allowing them to exert influence despite material constraints. Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic recalibration aligns with its Vision 2030 agenda, prioritizing economic diversification, regional stability, and multilateral engagement. Saudi Arabia enhances its geopolitical significance by positioning itself as a mediator in regional conflicts, reinforcing its religious leadership, investing in sports diplomacy, and maintaining energy dominance. This study contributes to understanding middle power strategies in international relations, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role as a stabilizing force in an evolving global order. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0137787ae1574d2db052d8637fd4e204 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2673-4060 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World |
| spelling | doaj-art-0137787ae1574d2db052d8637fd4e2042025-06-25T14:31:50ZengMDPI AGWorld2673-40602025-05-01626510.3390/world6020065Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global InfluenceMordechai Chaziza0Carmela Lutmar1Department of Politics and Governance and the Division of Multidisciplinary Studies in Social Science, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon 7823224, IsraelSchool of Political Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, IsraelSaudi Arabia has emerged as a key middle power, leveraging niche diplomacy to expand its global influence. This study examines how the Kingdom strategically employs mediation, religious diplomacy, humanitarian aid, energy leadership, and sports diplomacy to shape regional and international dynamics. Unlike great powers, middle powers focus on specialized areas where they hold a comparative advantage, allowing them to exert influence despite material constraints. Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic recalibration aligns with its Vision 2030 agenda, prioritizing economic diversification, regional stability, and multilateral engagement. Saudi Arabia enhances its geopolitical significance by positioning itself as a mediator in regional conflicts, reinforcing its religious leadership, investing in sports diplomacy, and maintaining energy dominance. This study contributes to understanding middle power strategies in international relations, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role as a stabilizing force in an evolving global order.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/65Saudi Arabianiche diplomacymiddle powerhumanitarian aidrenewable energyculture |
| spellingShingle | Mordechai Chaziza Carmela Lutmar Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence World Saudi Arabia niche diplomacy middle power humanitarian aid renewable energy culture |
| title | Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence |
| title_full | Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence |
| title_fullStr | Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence |
| title_short | Saudi Arabia’s Niche Diplomacy: A Middle Power’s Strategy for Global Influence |
| title_sort | saudi arabia s niche diplomacy a middle power s strategy for global influence |
| topic | Saudi Arabia niche diplomacy middle power humanitarian aid renewable energy culture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/65 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mordechaichaziza saudiarabiasnichediplomacyamiddlepowersstrategyforglobalinfluence AT carmelalutmar saudiarabiasnichediplomacyamiddlepowersstrategyforglobalinfluence |