Saudi Arabia played a much great role in the cold war that led to the lost of many lives. Its strategic location and the huge oil reserve made it to have a greater influence both politically and economically during the cold war. This is because various countries that participated in the war needed oil which was necessary ingredient during the cold war. Oil is was crucial at that time because it provided energy for moving from one place to the other during war. The oil was used to fuel military vehicle a factor which boosted military operation at that time. Oil also played a significant role in economic development bearing in mind that countries like U.S their economy entirely depend on oil.
- Economic importance of Saudi Arabia during cold war
- Provision of oil for energy used during the cold war.
- Geopolitical importance of Saudi Arabia
- Strategic location hence could provide many countries with oil
- hosting the United States combats troops and the military equipments that had been involved in operation to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait
- Social importance of Saudi Arabia during cold war.
- Developing good working relationship with the United States of America.
Introduction
The cold war began in Europe just after the world war II.after the World War II, Korea was divided into two: north and the South Korea. However, the North Korea became communist while South Korea became capitalists. Eventually, the North Korean army invaded South Korea. After the invasion of the South Korea by the North Korea, the United Nations decided to send soldiers to South Korea to help them. On the other hand, the Chinese government sent soldiers in reaction to the United Nations to help North Korea. The war then spread to countries like Saudi Arabia.
However, the influence of Saudi Arabia on the stability of its region and other nations such as the United States of America was important both economically and politically at the time of war. Rajhi and Salamah (2012). Its ability to produce large amount of oil and its strategic location made it to even play a much greater role than anybody would have expected it to do. However, this major roles played by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be expounded in detail.
Background information
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia that has been ruled by Al Saudi family since its founding in 1932 wields important economic and political influences as a birth place of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large oil reserve of energy. It is prudent to note that Saudi Arabia played some fundamental roles in cold war. The cold war-era relationship between the United States of America and the then ruling Al Saud family was built on the shared interests in securing Saudi oil production in combating the global communism that was spreading rapidly during that time. This paper shall examine the role played by Saudi Arabia during cold war including political and economic roles. Janin and Besheer (2003).
Role of Saudi Arabia during cold war explored
It was up to the time of cold war that the United States government realised the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia. Their good working relationship at that time enabled the government of the United States to acquire easily oil which was very important during cold war. During this war, Saudi Arabia played an incredibly important role in sustaining the economy of the United States of America.
This was solely because of its strategic position in the Middle East and also being one of the influential members of the OPEC, a group which is made up of countries which are the net exporters of oil. Its huge oil reserve was crucial during cold war. The oil provided energy that was used to drive the army and other weapons from one point to the other. For example, oil was used in military vehicles and choppers.
The relationship developed prior to the cold war between the United States of America and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was a boost to the United States economy especially at that time. This is because it ensured that the supply of oil and petrochemicals remained. This implied that most of the manufacturing industries in U.S that entirely depend on oil from Saudi Arabia remained operational. As we all know, the economy of the United States of America is largely dependent in oil and oil is an important export market for Saudi Arabia.
It is therefore prudent to note that despite the cold war, the stability of the U.S economy was not threatened because of their good working relationship. The relationship ensured that the trade between United States of America and Saudi Arabia remained constant. Such relationship ensured that there was a reliable source of the Arab oil into the United States of America and also ensured that trade remained constant. It is therefore worth noting that Saudi Arabia played a major role in ensuring that the economy of the United States of America remained constant bearing in mind that the stability of the American economy is largely dependent on the supply of oil from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the good working relationship that Saudi Arabia had with the United States of America was a critical factor in the sustenance of the American economy. Haas (2012).
Saudi Arabia also played a major role in combating communism. The united kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America worked hand in hand to ensure that they re-anchor the bilateral trade relationship on the basis of shared opposition to communism, economic initiative which boosted the recycling of Saudi petrodollars to the united states via the Saudi investment infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, industrial expansion and the renewed military cooperation.
During the war, Saudi Arabia also played the role of hosting the United States combats troops and the military equipments that had been involved in operation to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait. This helped to protect Saudi Arabia from being attacked during the war.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is prudent to note that Saudi Arabia played a much greater role during the cold war. The firm relationship that had been developed between the United States of America and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia provided major boost to the United States economy especially during the war. This is because of the significance of oil in the stability of the U.S economy.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also ensured that enough soldiers were available to protect them against the attack from their enemies such as Iran and the Iraq government. They provided accommodation to the U.S soldiers to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait. This helped to protect Saudi Arabia from being attacked during the war.
However, despite of the many mentioned role played by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the cold war, it is prudent to note that the fundamental role played was that of ensuring that the economy of the united states of America remained stable. Lets us imagine how the U.S economy would have fared own during the war if the relationship of the two countries could not have been good. Actually, the economy could have been completely destabilised because the U.s economy solely depends on oil and at that time, Saudi Arabia was their major supplier.
References
Janin, H. Besheer, M. (2003). Saudi Arabia. U.S.A: Marshall Cavendish.
Colás, A. Saull, R. (2006). The War on Terror And American 'Empire' After the Cold War.London: Routledge.
Haas M.L. (2012). The Clash of Ideologies: Middle Eastern Politics and American Security. U.K: Oxford University Press.
Rajhi, A.A. Salamah A.A. (2012). Economic Development in Saudi Arabia. London: Routledge.
