Dazi-Héni, Fatiha

Saudi Arabia: a new tropism towards the Red Sea - 2025.


62

This article analyzes the motivations behind Saudi Arabia’s strategic pivot towards the Red Sea when Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the kingdom’s future heir, announced Vision 2030: his program of transformations for the country. Drawing on our familiarity with the Saudi terrain, we analyze here the trigger factor that motivated this decision, while examining how the Saudi-Egyptian relationship constitutes the structural ferment that shaped Riyadh’s approach. We also examine the geopolitical challenges and stakes involved in MBS’s plan to build a “new Arabia” on the shores of the Red Sea.