Vision 2030, announced by Saudi Arabia back in 2016, started mainly as a plan to shake up things at home. The goal? Less reliance on oil, a more modern society, and a broader economy. However, almost ten years on, its effects reach far beyond just internal changes.
It is now a key tool in Saudi’s diplomacy, influencing how it wields power, builds alliances, and reshapes its place in a troubled Middle East.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees Vision 2030 to build the nation and improve its image on the world stage. Big projects, like NEOM, along with the Saudi Green Initiative, and even some cultural changes, are all part of the Kingdom’s effort to show itself as a place of progress and new ideas.
Importantly, this image is intended not just for Saudi Arab’s own people but is part of a wider story being told to the world. By promoting this sense of modernization, Riyadh hopes to adjust its standing with important global players and position itself as a source of stability, modernization, and practical thinking in an area often associated with conflict and traditional views.
Oil Diplomacy to Diversified Statecraft
Throughout a good portion of the 1900s, Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic approach was largely characterized by two key factors: oil and religion. Its clout stemmed significantly from its position as the globe’s foremost oil-exporting nation, and as the custodian of Islam’s most sacred locations. The Vision 2030 plan indicates a notable strategic transition away from reliance on solely oil-based diplomacy and toward a more multifaceted statecraft.
The Kingdom is increasingly utilizing economic diversification alongside investment-focused diplomatic efforts as supplementary means of asserting influence. For instance, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has helped morph Saudi Arabia into a major international investor, which thus ties its own economic ambitions to those of various countries located within Asia, Africa, and even Europe. Large-scale events, like the Future Investment Initiative (FII), provide valuable venues where diplomacy, finance, and elements of soft power are strategically combined.
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On a regional level, there has been a turn toward economic pragmatism as opposed to strict ideological competition. In 2023, China facilitated a reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, symbolizing a significant move from direct confrontation towards peaceful coexistence. Additionally, Riyadh’s engagement with Turkey, Syria, and Qatar signals a deliberate attempt to move beyond the zero-sum game rivalries that had marked much of the post-Arab Spring period.
These reconciliations aren’t simply token diplomatic gestures; they’re integral for fostering a steady and more predictable regional landscape essential in helping to accomplish Vision 2030’s broader economic goals.
Ultimately, it seems the Kingdom’s overall foreign policy direction is steadily progressing from primarily transactional oil-based diplomacy toward a strategy of modernization diplomacy where both economic reforms and the encouragement of regional stability are now perceived as mutually beneficial and tightly interconnected.
Global Partnerships in a Multipolar Order
Vision 2030 unfolds amidst a global power reshuffling. Though the U.S. continues as Saudi Arabia’s key security ally, Riyadh isn’t satisfied with a purely one-sided foreign policy anymore. A multi-faceted approach is now favored, mirroring the more complex realities of a multipolar world that is emerging.
China has become a vital economic collaborator, particularly in energy projects and infrastructure build-out, and Russia offers a practical partnership through OPEC+ and broader geopolitical considerations. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia maintains relationships with the European Union, Japan, and rising nations like India and South Korea to diversify its network of alliances.
This diplomatic agility suggests a movement toward greater strategic independence. Riyadh’s foreign policy has moved away from simply responding to Western demands and is now aimed more at proactively shaping its own path. By utilizing Vision 2030’s narrative of modernization, the Kingdom has essentially presented itself as a link between the global North and South, a negotiator in regional disputes, and a potential blueprint for state-led transformation, especially in the Global South.
Significantly, Saudi Arabia’s greater participation in global platforms, for example, the G20, and its attempts to mediate conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine, underline its transforming identity as a diplomatic actor a state keen to act autonomously in the pursuit of regional stability and its own global importance.
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Soft Power, Social Change, and the Diplomacy of Image
One aspect of Vision 2030 diplomacy that’s often overlooked is its soft power approach. The Kingdom is, in a way, trying to change its image from a traditional monarchy to a more modern and accessible society. Reforms such as giving women the right to drive, growing the entertainment and sports sectors, and investing in culture and tourism, aren’t just internal changes; they’re tools for shaping how the world sees them.
Events such as the Riyadh Season, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Expo 2030 bid, become stages on which Saudi Arabia shows off its progress and self-assurance to the world. This strategy that builds influence complements its more direct forms of power, helping the Kingdom connect with a wide range of people from investors all the way to social media personalities, policymakers, and even tourists.
However, the country is navigating a tricky situation. The quick pace of modernization in Saudi society has, at times, led to cultural clashes between those who hold onto older traditions and those pushing for change. On the global stage, Riyadh still deals with questions about human rights and governance. Despite this, Vision 2030’s success in shifting perceptions shows that a positive image has become quite a strategic asset. The Kingdom’s diplomacy is increasingly about using performance to persuade, proving its credibility by showcasing its progress.
Ultimately, Vision 2030’s soft power goals emphasize that, in the twenty-first century, diplomacy happens not just in government buildings, but also in cultural events, online spaces, and even investment conferences.
A New Model of Arab Leadership
Vision 2030 has undeniably propelled Saudi Arabia into a proactive role within the region. Today, the Kingdom’s diplomatic efforts seem less concerned with purely ideological considerations. Instead, a more pragmatic form of leadership is taking shape, one fundamentally tied to modernization, economic diversification, and the pursuit of a strategic equilibrium.
Riyadh, through this evolution, aims to secure its own future prosperity. Simultaneously, it endeavors to redefine regional leadership to show a way forward emphasizing economic strength, soft power projection, and active participation on the global stage, in contrast to military actions or exporting ideology.
But the true measure remains to be seen. The success of Vision 2030 depends on several key factors, most critically: sustaining the impetus for reform, effectively managing expectations at home, and consistently projecting itself as a dependable and trustworthy player in a region often marked by instability.
Saudi Arabia, in pursuit of strategic modernization, seems to be forging a new diplomatic path. This path blends internal transformation with ambitious foreign policy goals. Should Vision 2030 succeed, it will not only reshape the nation’s economic foundation, but could also recalibrate the geopolitical realities of the Middle East for the foreseeable future.
*The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of TDI.
Hamna Wasim
With a background in International Relations, Hamna Wasim takes a strong interest in the South Asian region.
