BAHRAIN’S ROLE IN THE GEOSTRATEGIC VISION OF IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA
BAHRAIN’S ROLE IN THE GEOSTRATEGIC VISION OF IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA

Summary/Abstract: Even though, subsequent to the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, Riyadh and Tehran entered into a geopolitical competition for supremacy in the Muslim world, the two states were strategic partners sharing core interests, such as fighting the spread of Communist ideology and of pan-Arabism. Despite this, both before and after 1979, the state of Bahrain, made up of 33 isles, of which only two are inhabited, has represented a cause for dispute between Saudi and Iranian interests. This article proposes to highlight the strategic importance of Bahrain to both Iran and Saudi Arabia, in the context of their geopolitical rivalry, especially since Bahrain is a majority Shiite state ruled by a Sunni minority. Starting in 1979, the Shiites of Bahrain have been emboldened by the Islamic Revolution to demand new rights, such as accession into upper governmental positions, but their marginalization continued under a policy of Manama supported by Riyadh. Thus, Bahrain became the field for a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Sunni monarchy of the state and Iran, whose strategy has been to support non-state actors to destabilize Bahrain in order for Shiites to assume power. Such a scenario is, however, viewed by the Saudis as a threat to their national security and to the regional status quo.

• Details
• Contents