Editing History of Saudi Arabia (section)

==Modern history==
{{Main|Modern history of Saudi Arabia}}
[[File:Dammam No. 7 on March 4, 1938.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dammam No. 7]], the oil well where commercial volumes of oil were first discovered in Saudi Arabia on March 4, 1938.]]

Although Abdulaziz had military and political success, the country struggled economically until commercial volumes of [[Petroleum|oil]] were [[Dammam No. 7|discovered in 1938]] in the [[Al-Ahsa Oasis|Al-Hasa]] region, along the [[Persian Gulf]] coast. Development began in 1946, after being delayed due to World War II. By 1949, oil production was in full swing.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Syed |first1=Muzaffar Husain |author-link1= |last2=Akhtar |first2=Syed Saud |author-link2= |last3=Usmani |first3=B D |author-link3= |date= September 14, 2011|title=Concise history of Islam |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eACqCQAAQBAJ|location= |publisher= Vij Books India Private Limited|page=362|isbn=9789382573470}}</ref>

In February 1945, Abdulaziz and U.S. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] met aboard the USS ''Quincy'' in the Suez Canal. There they made a historic handshake agreement (still in effect today), whereby Saudi Arabia would supply oil to the United States in exchange for American military protection of the Saudi regime.<ref>{{cite book |last= Coetzee|first=Salidor Christoffel|author-link= |date=March 2, 2021 |title= The Eye of the Storm|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=450vEAAAQBAJ|location= [[Singapore]]|publisher=Partridge Publishing |page= |isbn=978-1543759501}}</ref>

Abdulaziz died in 1953, upon which his son [[Saud of Saudi Arabia|King Saud]] succeeded to the throne. Oil provided Saudi Arabia with economic prosperity and a great deal of political leverage in the international community. Meanwhile, the government became increasingly wasteful and lavish. Despite the new wealth, extravagant spending led to governmental deficits and foreign borrowing in the 1950s.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" /><ref name="Rasheed, Madawi 2002">[[Madawi al-Rasheed|al-Rasheed, M.]], ''A History of Saudi Arabia'' (Cambridge University Press, 2002) {{ISBN|052164335X}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">Robert Lacey, ''The Kingdom: Arabia & The House of Sa'ud'', Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc, 1981 (Hard Cover) and Avon Books, 1981 (Soft Cover). {{LCCN|8183741}} {{ISBN|0380617625}}</ref>

[[File:Kings_Farouk_and_Ibn_Saud_in_1946.jpg|thumb|Abdulaziz (left) and Farouk checking an [[Egyptian Army]] unit in 1946. Other people picture include princes [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|Fahd]], [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Abdullah]], and [[Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Mishaal]], as well as prince [[Muhammad Abdel Moneim]].]]
[[File:Franklin D. Roosevelt with King Ibn Saud aboard USS Quincy (CA-71) on 14 February 1945 (USA-C-545).jpg|thumb|Abdulaziz (left) and Roosevelt aboard USS ''Quincy'' during their historic 1945 meeting]]

However, by the early 1960s, an intense rivalry between the King and his half-brother, [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia|Prince Faisal]], emerged, fueled by doubts in the royal family over Saud's competence. As a consequence, Saud was deposed in favor of Faisal in 1964.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" />

The mid-1960s saw external pressures generated by Saudi-Egyptian differences over [[Yemen]]. When [[North Yemen Civil War|civil war broke out in 1962]] between Yemeni royalists and republicans, Egyptian forces entered Yemen to support the new republican government, while Saudi Arabia backed the royalists. It is estimated that between 1962 and 1970, the monarchy in Saudi Arabia faced one of the gravest threats to its survival from Yemen.<ref>{{cite journal| url = https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21534764.2014.918468| title = J Mann, "Yemeni Threat to Saudi Arabia's Internal Security, 1962–70." ''Taylor & Francis Online''. 25 Jun 2014| journal = Journal of Arabian Studies| date = 2 January 2014| volume = 4| issue = 1| pages = 52–69| doi = 10.1080/21534764.2014.918468| last1 = Mann| first1 = Joseph| s2cid = 153667487| access-date = 31 August 2020| archive-date = 1 October 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221001180402/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21534764.2014.918468| url-status = live}}</ref> Meanwhile, [[Ahmad Shukeiri]] was relieved from his post as representative of Saudi Arabia at the UN after praising the fascist far-right organization [[Tacuara]], as this embarrassed Arabs and caused Latin American objections.<ref>[https://www.jta.org/1963/09/12/archive/israels-relations-with-non-arab-lands-in-middle-east-irk-arabs ''Israel's Relations with Non-arab Lands in Middle East Irk Arabs''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724154700/https://www.jta.org/1963/09/12/archive/israels-relations-with-non-arab-lands-in-middle-east-irk-arabs |date=24 July 2020 }} JTA, 12 September 1963</ref><ref>"Report of Study of US Foreign Aid In M.E. & African Countries", US Congress 1963, p. 387</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00010090/01768/8j| title = Israel Urges UN Adopt Direct Peace Talk Move. The Jewish Floridian, 21 December 1962, p.1a| access-date = 31 August 2020| archive-date = 31 October 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031041232/https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00010090/01768/8j| url-status = live}} ''One of the principal Arab detractors of Israel was missing today, and the Saudi Arabian position in the committee chamber was vacant. Shukairy left here Saturday, unannounced but not unnoticed. Having been recalled from his post by Saudi Arabia's King Feisal. A number of delegates, including Arabs embarrassed by his volatile speeches stirring anti-Semitism and endorsing the neo-Nazi Tacuara movement of Argentina, had asked King Feisal to take him away from the already highly charged UN scene.''</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=btAMAQAAMAAJ&q=%22group+of+Nazis%22| title = Congress Bi-weekly, Volume 30, 1963, p. 5| year = 1963| access-date = 7 February 2022| archive-date = 7 February 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220207165313/https://books.google.com/books?id=btAMAQAAMAAJ&q=%22group+of+Nazis%22| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/09/16/archives/argentine-youths-in-nazi-group-salute-and-cry-hail-tacuara.html | title=Argentine Youths in Nazi Group Salute and Cry: 'Hail Tacuara!'; Anti-Semitic Organization, Said to Be Growing, Asserts It Fights 'Zionism, Capitalism and Communism' Tells About Drills He Doubts Charges | newspaper=New York Times | date=16 September 1962 | agency=AP | page=30 | accessdate=15 August 2021 | archive-date=24 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824153745/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/09/16/archives/argentine-youths-in-nazi-group-salute-and-cry-hail-tacuara.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
Days before his dismissal, [[Hutchinson News]] reported that Arab diplomats, who claimed to be in close touch with the Saudi Arabian government, became so annoyed at Shukairy for his rash speech that they spoke of urging Saudi Prince Faisal to recall him. This case was not the first time they disapproved of his views and rhetoric.<ref name="hutchinson">[https://newspaper archive.com/hutchinson-news-dec-12-1962-p-1 Hutchinson News Newspaper Archives. 12 December 1962 p. 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801112853/http://newspaper/ |date=1 August 2013 }}. "Ambassador Under Fire" ''Arab diplomats, so annoyed at Saudi Aradian Ambassabor Shukairy for his rash speech advocating anti-Israel action that they consider urging Saudi Prince Faisal to recall him, That comes from diplomats who claim to be in close touch with the Saudi Arabian government.  Incidentally, this is not the first time that Mr. Shukairy has aired his personal views on the subject. He has delivered similar speeches here and Arabs were just and unappreciative then.''</ref>

Tensions with Yemen subsided only after 1967, when Egypt withdrew its troops from the country. Saudi forces did not participate in the [[Six-Day War|Six-Day (Arab–Israeli) War]] of June 1967, but the government later provided annual subsidies to Egypt, Jordan, and Syria to support their economies.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" /><ref name="US State Dept Saudi Arabia">{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3584.htm |title=Background note: Saudi Arabia |publisher=US State Department |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-date=21 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121043544/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3584.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Nasser and Faisal.jpg|thumb|Faisal (left) and Nasser in Cairo, 1969|240x240px]]

During the [[Yom Kippur War|1973 Arab-Israeli war]], Saudi Arabia participated in the [[1973 oil crisis|Arab oil boycott]] of the United States and other Western allies of Israel. A founding member of [[OPEC]], Saudi Arabia voted in favor of the group's decision to moderate oil price increases beginning in 1971. After the 1973 war, the price of oil rose substantially, increasing Saudi Arabia's wealth and political influence.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" />

Faisal was assassinated in 1975 by his nephew, Prince [[Faisal bin Musaid]],<ref>Robert Lacey, ''The Kingdom: Arabia and the House of Saud'' (Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich Publishing: New York, 1981) p. 426.</ref> and was succeeded by his half-brother [[Khalid of Saudi Arabia|King Khalid]], during whose reign economic and social development continued at an extremely rapid rate, revolutionizing the infrastructure and educational system of the country; in foreign policy, close ties with the US resumed.

In 1979, two events occurred that the Al Saud perceived as threatening the regime, and had a long-term influence on Saudi foreign and domestic policy. The first was the [[Iranian revolution|Iranian Islamic revolution]]. There were [[1979 Qatif Uprising|several anti-government riots in the region in 1979 and 1980]]. The second event was the [[Grand Mosque Seizure|seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by Islamist extremists]]. The militants involved were in part angered by what they considered to be the corruption and un-Islamic nature of the [[House of Saud|Saudi regime]].<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" /><ref name="Rasheed, Madawi 2002" /><ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="Saudi Arabia 2010">{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Hegghammer|2010}}|reference='Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism since 1979' by Thomas Hegghammer, 2010, Cambridge Middle East Studies {{ISBN|978-0521732369}}}}</ref> Part of the response of the royal family was to enforce a much stricter observance of Islamic and traditional Saudi norms. [[Islamism]] continued to grow in strength.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" /><ref name="Rasheed, Madawi 2002" /><ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="Saudi Arabia 2010"/>

[[File:Officers Juhayman al-Otaibi-1.jpg|thumb|left|240px|The surviving insurgents of the [[Grand Mosque Seizure|seizure of the Grand Mosque, 1979]] under custody of Saudi authorities, {{circa|1980}}.]]

King Khalid died in June 1982<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History"/> and was succeeded by his brother [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|King Fahd]]. Fahd maintained Saudi Arabia's foreign policy of close cooperation with the United States and increased purchases of sophisticated military equipment from the US and Britain.

Following the [[Invasion of Kuwait|Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990]], Saudi Arabia joined the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|anti-Iraq coalition]]. King Fahd, fearing an attack from Iraq, invited soldiers from the US and 32 other countries to Saudi Arabia. Saudi and coalition forces also repelled Iraqi forces when they breached the [[Battle of Khafji|Kuwaiti-Saudi]] border in 1991.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Titus |first1=James |title=The Battle of Khafji: An Overview and Preliminary Analysis |date=1 September 1996 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA360696 |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=16 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716021208/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA360696 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1995, Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke and his half-brother, [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Crown Prince Abdullah]], assumed day-to-day responsibility for the government. In 2003, Saudi Arabia refused to support the US and its allies in the [[Iraq War|invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Saudi Arabia History" /> [[List of militant incidents in Saudi Arabia|Terrorist activity]] within Saudi Arabia increased dramatically in 2003, with the [[Riyadh compound bombings]] and other attacks, which prompted the government to take more stringent action against terrorism.<ref name="Saudi Arabia 2010" /> Abdullah, already regent, officially ascended to the throne upon the death of Fahd in 2005. Despite growing calls for change, King Abdullah continued the policy of moderate reform.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/category/topic/saudi_arabia |title=Saudi Arabia &#124; The Middle East Channel |publisher=Mideast.foreignpolicy.com |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122072121/http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/category/topic/saudi_arabia |archive-date=22 January 2013 }}</ref> He pursued a policy of limited deregulation, privatization, and seeking foreign investment. In December 2005, following twelve years of talks, the [[World Trade Organization]] gave the green light to Saudi Arabia's membership.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_arabie_saoudite_e.htm |title=Accession status: Saudi Arabia |publisher=WTO |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-date=14 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814145307/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_arabie_saoudite_e.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the [[Arab Spring]] unrest and protests began to spread across the Arab world in early 2011, King Abdullah announced an increase in welfare spending. No political reforms were announced as part of the package.<ref name="AlJazeeraEnglishBenefits">{{cite news |title=Saudi king announces new benefits |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011223105328424268.html |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=23 February 2011 |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-date=6 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806003657/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011223105328424268.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, Saudi troops were sent to participate in the crackdown on unrest in Bahrain. King Abdullah gave asylum to deposed President [[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali]] of Tunisia and telephoned President [[Hosni Mubarak]] of Egypt (prior to his deposition) to offer support.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news |title=Egypt Protests could spread to other countries |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/31/egypt-protests-spread-other-countries |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=11 June 2011 |location=London |first=Ian |last=Black |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109111244/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/31/egypt-protests-spread-other-countries |url-status=live }}</ref> Abdullah also granted women the right to vote in municipal elections.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14703523 Saudi Arabia profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527014010/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14703523|date=27 May 2018}} ''BBC''</ref>

King Abdullah died in 2015 and his half-brother [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Salman]] became king.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-succession/saudi-king-abdullah-dies-new-ruler-is-salman-idUSKBN0KV2RQ20150122|title = Saudi King Abdullah dies, new ruler is Salman|newspaper = Reuters|date = 22 January 2015|last1 = McDowall|first1 = Angus|access-date = 3 July 2021|archive-date = 24 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924212711/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-saudi-succession-idUSKBN0KV2RQ20150122|url-status = live}}</ref> The new king reorganized the government, abolishing several bureaucratic departments.<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/mohammad-bin-nayef-takes-leading-role-in-saudi-arabia-1.1458374 Mohammad bin Nayef takes leading role in Saudi Arabia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018051214/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/mohammad-bin-nayef-takes-leading-role-in-saudi-arabia-1.1458374 |date=18 October 2017 }} ''Gulf News''. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.</ref> King Salman [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|involved Saudi Arabia]] in the [[Second Yemeni Civil War]].<ref>"[https://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/26/middleeast/yemen-saudi-arabia-airstrikes/ Saudi-led coalition strikes rebels in Yemen, inflaming tensions in region] ". CNN. 27 March 2015.</ref> Salman named his son [[Mohammed bin Salman]] as crown prince in 2017, and Mohammed has been assisting his father in the government ever since.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/saudi-arabia-appoints-king-salman-son-crown-prince-170621033707437.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621034700/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/saudi-arabia-appoints-king-salman-son-crown-prince-170621033707437.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 June 2017|title=Mohammed bin Salman named Saudi Arabia's crown prince|work=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|date=21 June 2017}}</ref> Shortly after becoming crown prince, he [[2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge|detained]] 200 princes and businessmen in the [[The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh|Ritz-Carlton]] in [[Riyadh]], stating that this was a move to prevent corruption in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/opinions/how-the-saudis-played-trump-bergen/index.html|title=Trump's uncritical embrace of MBS set the stage for Khashoggi crisis|work=[[CNN]]|first1=Peter|last1=Bergen|date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104054944/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/opinions/how-the-saudis-played-trump-bergen/index.html|archive-date=4 November 2018|url-status=live|access-date=13 January 2019}}</ref>

Mohammed bin Salman has led [[Saudi Vision 2030]], a plan to diversify [[Economy of Saudi Arabia|the country's economy]] and move Saudi Arabia away from a dependence on oil revenues.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Saudi Vision 2030|title=Full text of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2016/04/26/Full-text-of-Saudi-Arabia-s-Vision-2030.html|access-date=23 May 2016|website=[[Al Arabiya]]|date=13 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524181540/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2016/04/26/Full-text-of-Saudi-Arabia-s-Vision-2030.html|archive-date=24 May 2016}}</ref> He has also weakened the powers of the Saudi religious police<ref>{{cite news|first1=Mark|last1=Mazzetti|first2=Ben|last2=Hubbard|title=Rise of Saudi Prince Shatters Decades of Royal Tradition|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/world/rise-of-saudi-prince-shatters-decades-of-royal-tradition.html|access-date=17 October 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=16 October 2016|page=A1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016213234/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/world/rise-of-saudi-prince-shatters-decades-of-royal-tradition.html|archive-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> and granted [[Women's rights in Saudi Arabia|a number of rights to women]] in the country. For instance, Saudi women were given the right to drive in 2017<ref>{{cite news|title=Saudi Arabia will finally allow women to drive|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21729721-bigger-changes-are-needed-ultraconservative-kingdom-saudi-arabia-will|newspaper=The Economist|date=27 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928012726/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21729721-bigger-changes-are-needed-ultraconservative-kingdom-saudi-arabia-will|archive-date=28 September 2017}}</ref> and in 2018, they were allowed to open their own business without the [[Saudi anti male-guardianship campaign|permission of a male guardian]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/02/18/Saudi-women-to-start-own-business-without-male-permission.html|title=Saudi women to start own business without male permission|newspaper=Al Arabiya English |date=18 February 2018|publisher=Al Arabiya|access-date=30 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331104139/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/02/18/Saudi-women-to-start-own-business-without-male-permission.html|archive-date=31 March 2018}}</ref> and to maintain custody of their children following a divorce.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/middleeast/saudi-arabia-custody-law-intl/index.html|title=Divorced Saudi women win right to get custody of children|publisher=CNN|access-date=30 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322052156/https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/middleeast/saudi-arabia-custody-law-intl/index.html|archive-date=22 March 2018}}</ref> But Mohammed has also gained criticism for, among other things, his involvement in the [[Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi|murder]] of journalist [[Jamal Khashoggi]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45838471|title=Turkey 'has recording proving Saudi murder'|date=12 October 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012143207/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45838471|archive-date=12 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Human rights in Saudi Arabia|human rights violations]] under his rule.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests/rights-groups-condemn-saudi-arrests-as-crackdown-on-dissent-idUSKCN1BQ1RR|title=Rights groups condemn Saudi arrests as crackdown on dissent|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=15 September 2017|access-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918005638/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests/rights-groups-condemn-saudi-arrests-as-crackdown-on-dissent-idUSKCN1BQ1RR|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=live|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>