Saudi Arabia explained: How did the country become a regional power in West Asia?

Saudi Arabia emerged from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire not as a colonial creation, but through conquest and consolidation, anchored in an alliance between political power and religious authority. This distinct origin shaped how the kingdom understood sovereignty, security, and its role in the regional order. Oil transformed Saudi Arabia into a global energy power and, during the Cold War, tied it closely to Western interests, particularly the United States. The 1979 Iranian Revolution marked a decisive shift, sharpening Saudi threat perceptions and entrenching a rivalry with Iran driven as much by power and influence as by sectarian divides. In the decades that followed, Riyadh became involved—directly and indirectly—in conflicts across Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, even as proxy wars and non-state actors complicated its security strategy. By the end of the 2010s, Saudi Arabia faced a more fragmented and volatile region. The war in Yemen exposed the limits of military power, while attacks on its oil infrastructure revealed new vulnerabilities. In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine how Saudi Arabia became a regional power, how it has waged conflict, and what its trajectory reveals about power and insecurity in West Asia. Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu  Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Camera: Shivaraj S  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices