Saudi Crown Prince Moves to Exploit Vacuum Left By Iran in Middle East
In the aftermath of the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan and the continuing decline of the Iranian economy, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is stepping up his bid to fill the power vacuum in the Middle East. The aggressive move is an attempt to weaken Iran’s regional influence and create a new security architecture in the region.
Recently, MBS has been increasingly vocal about the need for countries in the Middle East to create a new and more effective military alliance to counter the growing influence of Iran and its proxies in the region. The Saudi Prince has also reached out to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, with whom he has held several secret talks, to build a united front against Iran and its allies in the region.
In addition, MBS is working to boost the military capacity of the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Coalition (IMCTC) and the International Counterterrorism Academy (ICTA), both of which are funded and led by Saudi Arabia. The IMCTC is currently made up of 41 nations, including 15 Arab League countries, that are committed to fighting terrorism.
The Saudi prince is also providing financial and logistical support to certain factions in Afghanistan, including some that are associated with the anti-Taliban resistance. These efforts are intended to weaken Iran’s influence over the Taliban, which has received significant support and funding from Iran in the past.
Furthermore, MBS has been working with the United States to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. Saudi Arabia has offered to increase oil production to fill the gap created by the crisis in Afghanistan, and the kingdom has also shown a willingness to increase its security cooperation with Washington.
In order to further limit Iran’s ability to exert its influence in the region, Saudi Arabia has recently strengthened its strategic partnership with neighboring countries, particularly Egypt, Turkey, and Oman. The strengthening of these bilateral relationships is an attempt to reduce Iran’s economic and political clout in these countries.
Iran, on the other hand, has been caught off guard by the sudden resurgence of Saudi ambition in the Middle East. Iran’s economy has been severely strained by U.S. sanctions imposed in 2018, which have limited the country’s oil exports and deprived it of financial resources.
However, Iran remains a significant challenge for Saudi Arabia, and a potential flashpoint for conflict remains the ongoing unrest in Yemen. The conflict there has been largely fueled by proxy forces backed by Iran and its allies, against the Saudi-backed government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
In recent weeks, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have attacked Saudi Arabia, killing several citizens and causing extensive damage to major infrastructure. Riyadh has responded to these attacks with airstrikes against rebel positions, threatening to escalate tensions further.
MBS’s quest to fill the power vacuum in the Middle East is likely to be met with resistance from both Iran and Russia, which remain significant players in the region. However, MBS’s vision for a reorganized Middle East, with the United States playing a key role, is still in its formative stages.