Following the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the positions of regional and international powers revealed their true roles in addressing the crisis. For Saudi Arabia, the response was a pale shadow of its former self, marked by weak diplomatic statements and inconsistent actions that underscored the kingdom’s diminishing regional and global influence. Under Mohammed bin Salman’s rule, Saudi Arabia has lost its stature as a central power in the Arab world and a significant global actor, becoming instead a marginal state subservient to American directives without exercising independent will.
Throughout the recent Gaza crisis, Saudi Arabia’s role was limited to issuing statements that called for restraint and an end to Israeli aggression, without taking any substantive steps to support these positions. Diplomatic initiatives were noticeably absent, as were even strong declarations that might have positioned the kingdom as a leading voice. Historically, Saudi Arabia was regarded as a pivotal force in the Palestinian cause, but under Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi stance has become a mere echo of U.S. policies, devoid of innovation or impact. This decline has sparked questions about the reasons for such a regression, particularly given the kingdom’s vast economic resources that could have bolstered its influence if managed wisely.
Despite its massive oil wealth and the billions spent on global image campaigns, Saudi Arabia has failed to achieve any noteworthy economic success on the international stage. The economic policies of Mohammed bin Salman have been centered on flashy projects like NEOM, yet they have not met their objectives of diversifying income sources or attracting substantial investments. Meanwhile, the United States has absorbed billions of Saudi dollars through enormous arms deals that have yielded little military advantage for the kingdom. Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has spent more than $100 billion on arms purchases, yet it has failed to achieve any decisive military success, whether in Yemen or in other confrontations.
Since Mohammed bin Salman’s ascent to power, Saudi Arabia’s defense strategy has relied heavily on acquiring advanced weaponry from the United States and Western nations. However, this arsenal has not translated into tangible achievements on the ground. In Yemen, for instance, Saudi Arabia has suffered significant losses without achieving its stated objectives, reflecting poor strategic planning and a heavy reliance on foreign support. International partnerships promoted by the Saudi regime as major accomplishments, such as collaborations with technology and defense companies, have not resulted in any transformative changes to the kingdom’s standing. Instead, Saudi Arabia has become a tool for advancing the interests of major powers without securing meaningful gains for itself.
The decline is not limited to the economic and military spheres but extends to Saudi Arabia’s cultural and diplomatic roles. Once considered the heart of the Islamic world and a source of soft power that influenced millions of Muslims globally, Saudi Arabia has seen this role wane significantly under Mohammed bin Salman. Policies focused on entertainment have drawn criticism both domestically and internationally, undermining the kingdom’s cultural influence. On the diplomatic front, Saudi Arabia has shifted from being a key player in resolving regional crises to a passive observer, incapable of asserting itself. Even on the Palestinian issue, long a cornerstone of Saudi foreign policy, the kingdom no longer wields the weight necessary to set the agenda or lead Arab positions.
Under Mohammed bin Salman’s rule, Saudi Arabia has forfeited its place as a regional and international power, becoming a state subservient to U.S. dictates without an independent vision. Failed economic policies, military dependency, a diminished cultural role, and the absence of effective diplomacy have rendered the kingdom increasingly irrelevant on the global stage. If this trajectory continues, Saudi Arabia risks further erosion of its influence, not only in the Arab world but also internationally. People remember, history does not forgive, and no amount of money spent on image-building can obscure the reality: Saudi Arabia under Mohammed bin Salman is rapidly regressing, treading a path paved with illusions.
