Saudi Arabia Steps onto the Field (1)

As I See

Adel El-Baz

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It appears that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has definitively closed the Jeddah negotiations file and has begun shaping its policy toward Sudan in a new and independent manner. This approach takes into account its national interests and security, as well as its perspective on the strategic risks surrounding the Horn of Africa and its concerns about being encircled.

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Saudi Arabia now finds itself in a ring of tensions and conflicts stretching from Yemen to Iraq and Iran, reaching its borders with Sudan across the Red Sea. Saudi diplomacy has always been known for patience, balance, and endurance, but the encircling flames seem to have pushed it to move more decisively on the Sudanese file than it did at the beginning of the war.

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Saudi Arabia’s patience with the policies pursued by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in relation to it and its immediate surroundings has worn thin. In March 2025, the UAE unilaterally demarcated its maritime borders, escalating tensions between the two countries after Riyadh rejected the move as a violation of previous agreements.

Prior to that, Saudi-UAE relations had seen notable divergences over the Yemen issue, where differences emerged regarding strategic influence and interests. In 2019, the UAE announced a shift in its Yemen strategy, declaring the end of its military mission within the Arab coalition after securing control over key ports and several Yemeni islands, as well as forming armed groups loyal to it.

This shift led to increased tensions between the two nations, as Yemen became an arena for competition through local proxies. Their priorities in Yemen differed; Saudi Arabia focused on supporting the legitimate government and restoring stability, while the UAE backed armed factions such as the “Southern Transitional Council.” These developments indicate that the Saudi-UAE dispute in Yemen goes beyond mere differences in viewpoints—it has become a struggle for influence and interests.

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In Sudan, three weeks after the war broke out, Saudi Arabia attempted urgent intervention alongside American mediators to stop the conflict. It recognizes the dangers of war in Sudan and the threat it poses to Red Sea security. The Kingdom is aware that one of the primary drivers of the war is the UAE’s attempt to seize control over Sudanese ports and resources, mirroring its actions in Yemen.

For Saudi Arabia, Red Sea security is a paramount issue that cannot be compromised. Around 70% of Saudi trade passes through the Red Sea, alongside 13% of global trade. Control over these ports directly affects the massive investments the Kingdom is currently executing along the Red Sea coast, including in NEOM and the Farasan Islands—areas located less than 300 kilometers from the ports the UAE seeks to dominate.

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Despite Saudi Arabia’s early efforts to contain the Sudanese war through the Jeddah platform, the UAE-backed militia refused to implement the Jeddah Declaration’s provisions, believing they could defeat the Sudanese army and seize full control of the country. This made Saudi Arabia realize that Sudan falling under the control of foreign-backed militias and the creation of a new one-million-strong “Bashi-Bazouk” force loyal to the UAE was a direct threat to its national security and Red Sea stability.

(Bashi-Bazouk: These were irregular soldiers in the Ottoman army, often mercenaries or volunteers who did not receive formal salaries but relied on looting and plundering as their main source of income. The term “Bashi-Bazouk” means “empty-headed” in Turkish—just like Kharas Abdul Rahim Dagalo!)

It also became clear that the same entities attempting to control Sudan today had previously sought to invade Qatar by assembling 5,000 Janjaweed fighters and deploying them to Qatar’s borders as part of a major conspiracy. However, by the grace of God, their plot failed, as divine justice does not aid the treacherous.

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Saudi Arabia’s absence or disengagement from the Sudanese file was puzzling, especially given the intense regional and international intervention in Sudan’s affairs. How could the UAE, with its Janjaweed forces, its bid for control over ports and resources, and its arming of militias, be present while Saudi Arabia was absent? How could Russia establish military bases on the Red Sea shores, Turkey supply arms and initiatives, Iran deploy drones and a diplomatic mission, Egypt engage in covert policies and support, and Sudan’s African neighbors openly back militias—while Saudi Arabia remained on the sidelines?

How could Saudi Arabia be absent when it holds some of the strongest cards in this crisis? It has the capability to act and influence all aspects of the issue—politically, militarily, and humanitarianly. The Kingdom enjoys widespread acceptance and support from various parties involved in the Sudanese conflict, both regionally and internationally. Moreover, since the beginning of the crisis, Saudi Arabia has extended a helping hand through humanitarian efforts, with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center continuously mobilizing support within Saudi Arabia and delivering aid convoys to Sudan.

With its regional and international stature—especially after unveiling its ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, which will elevate it to a global power in Asia—Saudi Arabia now plays a pivotal role in global crises, including hosting the Russian-Ukrainian peace talks. The Saudi role in the Sudanese file is indispensable; no other entity can take its place or exclude it. How could Saudi Arabia be absent when it possesses all the tools to influence the key players, understands every facet of the crisis, and was the first to mediate when the war began, making every possible effort to resolve it?

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Saudi Arabia’s previous stance, which left the field open to those tampering with its security and that of Sudan, puzzled many observers. Therefore, the Kingdom’s recent rapid steps regarding Sudan are understandable, as they stem from the increasing risks threatening its security due to the UAE’s hostile policies and imperial ambitions pursued without Gulf coordination.

To reinforce its role and presence in the Sudanese file, Saudi Arabia has swiftly adopted an active diplomatic approach in Africa, particularly among Sudan’s neighboring countries (the “Belt States”). Fortunately, the Kingdom enjoys strong relations with these nations and with Africa as a whole, where it has invested approximately $73 billion.

To break the stranglehold on Sudan and play a decisive role in its crisis, what has Saudi Arabia done? Stay tuned…