Bid for Regional Leadership and Saudi Arabia: Changing Threats and New Foreign Policy

Öz

Saudi Arabia has been pursuing more assertive foreign policy since the start of uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East which is widely known as the “Arab Spring.” By forming new alliances, by using force in different conflict zones and by implementing reform in its domestic political and social structure Saudi Arabia has been reformatting its foreign policy and seek leadership in the region. Direct intervention to Bahrain’s uprising against the government, sending military troops to Yemen, implementing blokade on Qatar, distancing itself from Israeli-Palestinian question, new armament program are some examples of this new policy. In this article, the reasons of this change in Saudi foreign policy and its consequences for the region is analysed through regional systemic changes, domestic political factors and theory of rational choice.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Saudi Arabia,security,geopolitics,Iran,Arab Spring

Bölgesel Liderlik Arayışı ve Suudi Arabistan: Farklılaşan Tehditler ve Yeni Dış Politika

Öz

Suudi Arabistan Arap Baharı da denilen, Kuzey Afrika ve Ortadoğu’da etkili olan bir dizi isyan dalgasından bu yana daha iddialı bir dış politika izlemektedir. Yeni ittifaklar kurarak, askeri güç kullanarak, kendi içinde gerçekleştirmeye çalıştığı siyasi ve sosyal reform denemeleriyle Suudi Arabistan dış politikasını yeniden biçimlendirmeye ve bölgede liderlik etmeye çalışmaktadır. Bahreyn’deki ayaklanmaya doğrudan müdahale, Yemen iç savaşına asker göndererek katılma, Katar’a yönelik abluka denemesi ve İsrail-Filistin sorunu ile arasına mesafe koyma, silahlanma politikası bu yeni politikanın uygulanmasına bazı örnekler olarak gösterilebilir. Bu makalede Suudi Arabistan’ın değişmekte olan dış politikasının gerekçeleri ve bunun bölgeye olası etkileri sistemdeki değişiklikler, iç siyasi faktörler ve gerçekçi seçim teorisi üzerinden açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Suudi Arabistan,Basra Körfezi,Güvenlik,İran,Jeopolitik

Kaynakça

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