If I were to summarize the political achievements of Saudi Arabia in 2023, a very tough ask, I would sum it up in two words: “transcendence” and “sovereignty.” These two qualities were instrumental in the exceptional rise of Saudi Arabia in a year that was extremely difficult globally, in terms of crises, challenges, and conundrums. These difficulties begin with the confusion in the West, particularly that of the US administration, to the emergence of political nihilism that disregards justice, human rights, dignity, and the right to life, especially since October 7.
The significance of sovereignty has perhaps been clear since the launch of Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive Vision 2030. Its economic components reflect a conception of politics centered around investment in citizens, prioritizing the national interest, and reaffirming long-standing traditions in foreign policy and international relations that are grounded in sovereignty and partnerships. Sovereignty also means non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states and building partnerships instead of giving away grants, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for the region.
What must be appreciated today are the achievements of political transcendence. Although this concept is typically used in discussions of culture, philosophy, social issues, and ethics. In the political sense, however, it applies distinctly to Saudi Arabia. That can be seen in the Kingdom's stance following the attacks against it, as well as its keenness on promoting a reconciliatory vision, in a conflict-driven region, that looks towards the future, reinforces its vision, and overcomes differences.
Indeed, the Kingdom places crises within their particular context. For example, it insists that the barbaric assault on Gaza is the result of neglecting Palestinians’ rights and denying the justice of their cause. Saudi Arabia knows that there can be no solution or discussion about the future without an immediate cessation of the war. This stance transcends even the coarse voices of all sides, especially those on the Israeli right and the United States, as well as the revolutionary and militia mouthpieces of the region.
Transcending this cacophony is a pillar of its politics. The Kingdom thus emphasizes the need to prioritize state logic over others, especially since Saudi society’s immunity to slogans, political propaganda, malicious campaigns, and misinformation has been gaining strength for decades and was reinforced further by Vision 2030.
Transcendence and sovereignty took root as core political concepts in 2023. Saudi Arabia’s political and diplomatic footprint grew at the regional and international levels. It has engaged the world to discuss crises and challenges around the world, which the fair-minded recognized as the dawn of a new Saudi era at the geo-political level. This shift was defined by its efforts to find solutions for extremely complex and intertwined issues, starting from the evacuation of thousands of civilians and diplomats from Sudan following the eruption of the Sudanese crisis, and its work to create space for negotiations among rivals.
On the other hand, the announcement of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March of last year was an exceptional and surprising step. However, it was within a visionary Saudi step toward the future premised on prioritizing reconciliation over conflict. After that, the Kingdom hosted international summits and meetings with the same objective, including the Saudi-Japanese Summit and Saudi-Turkish Summit in Jeddah, and the Consultative Meeting of the GCC Supreme Council and Gulf-Central Asian Summit held later in the year.
Saudi Arabia also transcended the binary of “pro- or anti-” in the Ukrainian crisis. It took another proactive step by hosting a meeting on the Ukrainian crisis in Jeddah, which was attended by national security advisors from about 40 countries and was followed by the historic first-ever summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Palestinian crisis put the concept of transcendence to the test, and its effort to resolve conflicts has positioned Saudi Arabia as a key player in the region. Saudi Arabia also took the initiative and urgently convened an extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit to halt the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip. 2023 also saw the Saudi-African summit, and the year concluded with a Saudi-Russian Summit, with the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Riyadh.
Riyadh is the beating heart of hope for the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia is leading the way towards a better future. In contrast to the projects of militias, grand totalitarian illusions, and the opportunism of constraining ideologies, it is a source of regional stability. The “virtue of stability,” which I always emphasize as the key to understanding Saudi Arabia, is complemented today by the Kingdom’s ability to offer hope focused on sovereignty and the future - one that opens all doors and reshapes unresolved questions.
