علی حجازیان

Abstract

Economic diplomacy is a subject that emerged primarily in the post-Cold War era with the expansion of globalization and has now become one of the modern, efficient, and powerful tools for international interaction, contrasting with traditional diplomacy. Since the late ۱۹۹۰s, globalization has intensified, significantly impacting U.S. trade policy. The end of the Cold War in ۱۹۹۱ marked a pivotal moment in global politics and economics. The United States emerged as the sole superpower, reshaping its foreign policy, economic diplomacy, and self-diplomacy within the framework of reshaping the global order. The United States focused on expanding its economic influence worldwide, redefining its trade policy to promote economic liberalization, open markets, and free trade agreements. Among Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia is considered a regional ally of the United States based on variables such as the relationship based on "common interests and threats," "scope and nature of military relations," and "mutual economic dependence." Since the discovery of oil in the ۱۹۴۰s, the United States has largely intertwined its regional interests with Saudi Arabia. Although the energy position has diminished to a large extent in the bilateral relations, security is still a valuable commodity sold by the United States to Saudi Arabia, remaining one of the most important stability factors in their relationship.Moreover, in recent years, Saudi Arabia has set ambitious goals for its role in the ۲۱st century, outlined in the Vision ۲۰۳۰. Based on Vision ۲۰۳۰, Saudi Arabia has designed a new economic diplomacy and is gradually implementing it. Despite the shift in U.S. priorities towards national security and counterterrorism following the September ۱۱ attacks, trade remains a vital aspect of diplomacy and economic growth.This study poses the main question: "What are the influential factors on U.S. and Saudi economic diplomacy?" In response, considering the results of the study on U.S.-Saudi economic relations, it should be noted that U.S. economic commitment to its allies in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, and the strategic shift from oil to security by the United States, alongside Saudi Arabia's reciprocal change in reducing dependence on oil exports to the United States and simultaneously using oil as a tool to ensure global energy security by Saudi Arabia, as well as the increase in Saudi Arabia's arms imports from the United States, and mutual investments in areas such as renewable energy, nuclear energy, and aerospace industry, are among the influential factors on economic diplomacy during the years ۲۰۱۳ to ۲۰۲۱ in the interactions between the two countries.

Keywords: Economic Diplomacy, Trade Policy, Economic Relations, United States, Saudi Arabia, Oil, Security.