In the recent months, a civil war in Yemen between Houthi rebels and the original Yemeni
government has become more complicated, as the nations of Iran and Saudi Arabia have
supported opposing sides.
Saudi Arabia is interested in restoring the deposed government, and they have devoted
a large amount of military resources to this task.
As various forces battle for dominance in the region, we wanted to know, how powerful
is Saudi Arabia?
Well, in terms of size, it’s the 13th largest nation in the world, and the largest country
in the Middle East, at about 830 thousand square miles.
Its economy is also one of the most dominate in the region.
Since the discovery of massive oil deposits in the early 1900s, Saudi Arabia has grown
to be a wealthy nation.
Its GDP of more than $750 billion dollars, rivals the economies of Turkey and Switzerland.
Saudi Arabia holds about 16% of the world’s proven oil deposits, and because of this,
they have made powerful friends like the United States and the United Kingdom.
But Saudi Arabia’s true prowess comes from its military, which is the most highly-funded
in the Middle East.
In 2013, Saudi Arabia replaced the UK as the world’s fourth largest military spender.
And today, about a tenth of their GDP, or more than $80 billion dollars, goes towards
their defense.
Displaying their strength, Saudi Arabia has launched a barrage of air strikes against
the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, this month.
However, the attacks have reportedly failed to halt the advance of the Houthis.
And despite their massive defense funds, sources still rank Saudi Arabia third after Israel
and Iran for the most militarily powerful Middle Eastern nation.
Saudi Arabia is an important member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries,
or OPEC.
And it’s a part of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
Also, Saudi Arabia has recently helped form a new Arab military group, still without an
official name, that seeks to counter the threat of non-state rebels and terrorists in the
region.
Drawbacks to Saudi Arabia’s power lie in its traditionally secluded behavior and devotion
to a repressive, authoritarian monarchy.
Saudi Arabia is a powerful nation in the Middle East, and a significant presence across the
globe, mostly due to profits from their natural resources.
And though the nation has a number of enemies, Saudi Arabia also has many friends, both regionally
and globally.
Historically, the US has contributed to Saudi Arabia’s weapons supply and their intelligence
network.
And, recently, in their fight against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, about eight nearby
nations donated more than 100 military planes to the cause.
So, because of their riches, military prestige, and compelling friendships abroad, Saudi Arabia
is often considered a growing “Middle Power” in the world.
Since Iran is one of Saudi Arabia’s fiercest rivals in the region, make sure you check
out our video on how powerful Iran is right here.
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