Dr Neil Partrick, the lead contributing author of Saudi Arabian Foreign Policy: Conflict and Cooperation, addressed Caabu on the key themes in his book on Saudi Foreign policy particularly its relations with other Middle Eastern countries.
Throughout his discussion, Dr Partrick emphasised that Saudi Arabia was a status quo power. He addressed some consistent themes in Saudi foreign policy history, one of the most prominent being the search for security and opportunism, carried out via the instrumentalisation of Islam - a strategy used to legitimise actions and alignments and to veil clashing interests with other states in the region. A persisting trend in Saudi foreign policy which Dr Partrick mentioned, is the 'daughter of the minute'/rhetorical spasm which features frequently in many aspects of Saudi foreign policy - as seen in the talk surrounding whether to send ground troops to Syria, and in the mentions of a potential regional police force with other GCC member states.
Regarding the Muslim Brotherhood, Dr Partrick saw Saudi adopting a more pragmatic approach towards the Muslim Brotherhood under King Salman, allowing easier relations particularly with Turkey and Qatar. It was part of a process of trying to put the Sunni house in order.
On Palestine, Dr Partrick felt that Saudi tried to avoid getting entangled in the issue. That said, King Abdallah had been extremely critical of President George W Bush.
When addressing Saudi Arabia's relations with its foreign allies, Dr Partrick asserted that it is unlikely the USA will ever intervene to save Saudi Arabia, but that it will remain as an important strategic ally in terms of guaranteeing external border security for Saudi Arabia.
