Aziz Alghashian is a SEPAD and CARPO Fellow, whose main topic of research is Saudi policy towards Israel. He has a PhD from the University of Essex where he taught International Relations, and Politics and Middle Eastern Studies.

Follow Aziz on X: @AzizAlghashian

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Misconceptions about Saudi Arabia
06:13 Saudi Arabia's Experience with Terrorism
08:58 Life in Saudi Arabia
11:57 Cultural Differences in the UK
21:57 Purpose of Sending Overseas Cadets to Sandhurst
28:57 Leadership and Values at Sandhurst
33:07 Continuing Education and Focus on Saudi Foreign Policy
33:47 Understanding Saudi Foreign Policy
39:31 The Tendency Towards Empire Building in Islam
40:30 Saudi Arabia's View of Authority and Empire Building
48:23 The Role of Islam in Saudi Foreign Policy
53:40 Spreading Islam and Interfaith Dialogue
56:23 The Challenge of Saudi Arabia's Image
01:02:59 The Potential for Dialogue and Understanding
01:09:25 Normalization and the Saudi Position
01:15:20 Saudi Arabia's Demands for Normalization
01:16:35 Challenges to Normalization
01:17:35 Saudi Arabia's Contingency Position
01:18:04 Devastation of October 7th
01:19:01 Misinterpretation of Saudi Statements
01:19:30 Domestic Politicization of Saudi Arabia
01:20:28 Longing for Acceptance by the World
01:21:28 Biden's Anti-MBS Stance
01:22:27 Normalization with Iran
01:23:26 Flaw in Normalization with Iran
01:24:08 Saudi Policy Towards Israel
01:25:06 Saudi Communication with Israel
01:26:06 Complexity of Iran's Domestic Politics
01:27:04 Reframing the Relationship with Iran
01:28:04 Different Approaches to Security
01:29:05 Saudi Arabia's Economic Restructuring
01:30:22 Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030
01:32:42 Cultural Transformation and Innovation
01:36:28 Saudi Arabia's Tolerant Vision of Islam
01:40:23 Saudi Arabia's Economic and Social Reforms
01:45:28 Cutting Funding for Radical Islam
01:50:11 Saudi Arabia's Economic Restructuring
01:52:53 Long-Term Trends for Saudi Arabia