An Analysis of Reorientation of KSA’s Foreign Policy Towards Pakistan and India under Vision 2030

Abstract

The research examines the reorientation of foreign policy of Saudi Arabia with India and Pakistan under the framework of Vision 2030 through the lens of Social Constructivism. The study sheds light on how Vision 2030 impacts Saudi Arabia’s socio-economic relations vis-a-vis Pakistan and India and what are the significant factors which drive the changes in foreign policy behavior of KSA. The research addresses the missing link that exists in the literature between social constructivism, Vision 2030 and KSA’s relation with India and Pakistan since recalibrating its foreign policy. Moreover, the socioeconomic changes manifested in KSA’s foreign policy are particularly indispensable to understand how Saudi Arabia will maintain its legitimacy in the wake of its interests. Therefore, the objective of the study is to assess the rationale behind KSA's unorthodox Vision 2030 and to evaluate the reformulation of relationship of KSA, India and Pakistan under the gambit of Vision 2030. The methodology is qualitative in nature which highlights the factors behind changing foreign policy behavior of Saudi Arabia and a comparative analysis has been drawn between Indo-Saudi relations and Pak-Saudi relations. It explains that economic diversification, privatization of assets, employment opportunities, regional and global competitiveness and soft power projection are the major reasons which are influencing the foreign policy behavior of the Kingdom. With respect to the foreign relations with India and Pakistan, the comparative analysis gives an insight that Pakistan has forged relations with KSA on the basis of religion but with India, KSA has superseded in terms of socio-economic dynamics. It explains that religious and moral principles are not necessary to form relations with the like-minded states rather national interests matter the most. Thus, the research is significant in understanding the interplay of materialistic and non-materialistic factors in the foreign policy of the states. It is furthermore significant for academicians, foreign policy makers, students of foreign policy and political leaders.