Iran’s, Saudi Arabia’s Defense and Security Strategy

Abstract

Arafat offers an in-depth analysis of both Iran and Saudi Arabia’s defense and security strategy. This chapter draws the attention of Iran’s defense and security strategy: Iran’s “asymmetric warfare”/“hybrid warfare,” Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear program, and Iran’s soft warfare and cyberwarfare. Put succinctly, this chapter discusses Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy driver and defense strategy, Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy drivers and national interest objectives, Saudi threat perceptions. This chapter concludes Iran has successful security and defense strategy. It achieved its national security objectives, while Saudi Arabia has no cohesive strategy toward the region. It has employed cash diplomacy to buy the loyalty of Sunni states or buying-loyalty strategy. It has failed to build regional alliance to defend its national security or the GCC security.