Opportunities for Italian-Saudi Relations in the Post-Arab Spring Environment

This chapter aims to focus on the opportunities for Saudi Arabia and Italy to contribute to renew economic and cultural ties between our regions, by initiating a model of dialogue aimed at securitisation and stabilisation of the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East. Developing strategic convergences on a more solid basis refers to the ability to go beyond trade, towards diversification of cooperation, as the best way to safeguard common political and economic interests. In light of the historical Italian-Saudi relations, greater awareness of the importance to broaden our cooperation can be developed within the framework of enhanced mutual knowledge. Within this perspective, an overview of “historical roots” and internal dynamics of Gulf Arab countries and, more specifically, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is given to shed more light on GCC reactions to the most recent events in the Arab world, as well as to internal challenges.