Saudi Arabia and International Peace
Today, Saudi Arabia stands as one of the most influential actors in the making of global peace. Its role extends far beyond conventional diplomacy to encompass conflict resolution, preservation of state sovereignty and territorial unity, the fight against terrorism and extremism, poverty alleviation, and even the promotion of individual human peace through dignified living standards and humanitarian medicine.
This comprehensive vision of peace is not a recent development; rather, it is deeply rooted in the Kingdom’s political tradition since the era of its founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and has continued consistently to the present day.
Saudi Arabia has long positioned itself as a trusted mediator in regional and international disputes. Guided by a philosophy that prioritizes dialogue over confrontation, the Kingdom has played a central role in facilitating negotiations between rival parties.
A notable example is its role in Yemen, which sought to contain internal conflict by bringing together competing political forces under a unified framework aimed at restoring stability and state institutions. On a broader level, Saudi Arabia remains firmly committed to the Arab Peace Initiative, first launched in 2002, which offers a comprehensive framework for resolving the Palestinian–Israeli conflict through a two-state solution.
This initiative reflects the Kingdom’s belief that sustainable peace can only be achieved through justice, mutual recognition, and respect for international legitimacy.
Such diplomatic efforts echo the foundations laid by King Abdulaziz, who established Saudi foreign policy on principles of balance, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence.
Beyond mediation, Saudi Arabia has consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining the unity and sovereignty of states. The Kingdom has opposed fragmentation, sectarianism, and externally imposed divisions, viewing them as primary sources of prolonged instability.
In this context, Saudi Arabia’s engagement with Syria illustrates a policy aimed at supporting the country’s territorial integrity and institutional recovery after years of devastating conflict. This approach aligns with a broader Saudi vision that stable states—rather than fractured entities—are the cornerstone of regional and global security.
By supporting legitimate governments and national institutions, the Kingdom contributes to preventing power vacuums that often breed extremism and violence.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism and extremist ideologies. Recognizing early on that terrorism poses not only a security threat but also an ideological one, the Kingdom has combined military, financial, and intellectual tools to confront it. Saudi Arabia is an active member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and has played a key role in disrupting terrorist financing networks. Equally significant is the establishment of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal), based in Riyadh.
The center represents a pioneering effort to counter radical narratives through data-driven analysis and strategic communication. International organizations, including the United Nations, have acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism efforts as an important model for international cooperation in this domain.
The Saudi vision of peace recognizes that security cannot be separated from development. Poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity are fertile grounds for conflict and instability. For this reason, Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the world’s leading humanitarian donors.
Through institutions such as the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, the Kingdom has provided billions of dollars in aid to crisis-stricken regions, particularly in Yemen, Syria, and parts of Africa. In addition to emergency relief, Saudi development funds support long-term projects in education, healthcare, and infrastructure across the developing world.
These initiatives reflect an understanding that peace is sustained not merely by ending wars, but by empowering societies to build resilient and dignified futures. Perhaps one of the most compelling dimensions of Saudi Arabia’s peace-building role lies at the individual level. Within the Kingdom and beyond, Saudi initiatives aim to enhance quality of life and uphold human dignity.
A prominent example is the Saudi program for the surgical separation of conjoined twins, which has successfully treated dozens of children from different countries. These highly complex procedures, offered as humanitarian assistance, symbolize a form of peace that begins with saving individual lives and restoring hope to families. Such efforts underscore a broader Saudi belief: peace is not only a geopolitical condition, but also a deeply human experience rooted in health, security, and opportunity. From the time of King Abdulaziz to the present leadership, Saudi Arabia’s commitment to peace has remained remarkably consistent.
By resolving conflicts, preserving state unity, combating terrorism, alleviating poverty, and promoting human dignity, the Kingdom has shaped a multidimensional model of peace-building. It is therefore unsurprising that forces of chaos, extremism, and fragmentation react with hostility toward this role.
Stability, moderation, and development threaten those who thrive on disorder and division. Yet Saudi Arabia’s steady course affirms that peace—when pursued with vision, resources, and moral clarity—can be both a national doctrine and a global contribution.
