Saudi Arabia’s Failed Power Projections since the Arab Spring

Although Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab power, it has been restricted and countered by Iran that is challenging the control of the regional order from U.S.-backed states. The paper argues that there have been several critical flashpoints of rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh, in which, Iran has successfully outmanoeuvred its rival and won these geopolitical contests. Although the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran is often viewed in the context of Sunni-Shi’ite divisions, the paper argues that this is secondary when viewed from the Iranian vision that they are engaged in an anti-imperialist struggle against U.S.-supported Saudi Arabia. Rather, the respective regional powers utilize sectarian divisions to further their ambitions of controlling the Middle Eastern regional order, the most significant being Iran’s support for the Lebanese Shi’ite militant group Hezbollah. Despite the billions invested and making pre-emptive moves, such as backing terrorists in Syria since 2011, invading Yemen since 2015, and fomenting diplomatic crises with Qatar and Lebanon in 2017, Riyadh has failed in its policy goals to contain Iran.