Why did the king of oil become a stranger among himself today?

Saudi Arabia, which once led the Islamic world, is today getting isolated among its neighbors and fellow Muslim countries. The main reason for this is believed to be the policies of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who often took such decisions that weakened traditional Islamic cooperation. There was a time when Saudi Arabia had an influence all over the world on the basis of its oil, but now many of its old allies have started distancing themselves from it. Especially in the eyes of Palestine supporters, Saudi is no longer the same as before.

There was a change in Saudi Arabia’s policy regarding Palestine, which led to a decline in its credibility in the Arab world. Earlier, Saudi Arabia was openly seen standing against Israel and in support of Palestine, but now it has taken steps towards improving relations with Israel. Under the Abraham Accord, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have already joined hands with Israel, and Saudi is also moving on the same path. This policy has caused resentment among pro-Palestine groups, who no longer consider Saudi as a reliable Islamic leadership.

Increased opinion among loved ones
Saudi Arabia and Iran’s relations were already bitter, but in recent years its differences with Qatar, Turkey and other Islamic countries have also increased. In 2017, an attempt was made to isolate Qatar by imposing economic sanctions on it, but this step backfired. Qatar strengthened its relations with Iran and gradually became more powerful on the economic front. Apart from this, Turkish President Erdogan is also trying to strengthen his hold in the Islamic world, which is posing a direct challenge to Saudi’s supremacy.

Another major failure of Prince Salman was seen in Yemen, where he waged a war against the Houthi rebels since 2015, but could not end it till date. Saudi Arabia suffered heavy losses in the Yemen war, but the Houthi rebels continued to grow stronger. They even attacked Saudi Arabia’s oil installations, raising questions about Riyadh’s security policies. This failure further weakened Saudi Arabia, and its regional power is no longer the same as before.

Prince Salman changed his policy
Now the question arises as to which direction Saudi Arabia will take next. Prince Salman’s ‘Vision 2030’ project emphasizes on removing the country’s economy from dependence on oil and increasing investment in tourism and other sectors. But it is being said that Saudi does not have enough resources to fulfill this plan. If the demand for oil decreases further in the future, then Saudi’s global role may weaken further. Overall, where Saudi Arabia was once considered the undisputed leader of the Islamic world, today its policies are distancing it from its own allies.