National Security Council (Saudi Arabia)
Encyclopedia
The Saudi National Security Council (SNSC) ( Majlis al-Amn al-Waṭanī as-Su‘ūdī) is the body in charge of coordinating Saudi Arabia
's national security
, intelligence and foreign policy
strategy. It was established in 2005 by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
. The current Secretary General of the SNSC is Bandar bin Sultan
, the former Saudi Ambassador to the United States.
in response to major geopolitical shifts in the Middle East
region. The occupation of Iraq made the region "a center for reconstruction, globalization and reorganization" with the entry of the United States
as a major player. In addition to its regional influence in the Arabian Peninsula
, Saudi Arabia is one of the leading actors in the Islamic world and has a central role in global energy policy
.
, including the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice
or religious police.
Despite the formation of the Council, as with other Saudi government institutions, major national security decisions will continue to be taken by the most senior members of the royal family
, including King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and Prince Nayef.
), with the Crown Prince (who is also Deputy Prime Minister) as deputy chairman. Its affairs are coordinated by a permanent Secretary General. At the time of its formation, other members included the Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs
, Deputy Commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard
and head of the General Intelligence Presidency
.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
's national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
, intelligence and foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
strategy. It was established in 2005 by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
. The current Secretary General of the SNSC is Bandar bin Sultan
Bandar bin Sultan
Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is a prince of the Saudi royal family and was Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah on 16 October 2005...
, the former Saudi Ambassador to the United States.
History
The National Security Council was formed on October 16, 2005 by the newly crowned King AbdullahAbdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
in response to major geopolitical shifts in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
region. The occupation of Iraq made the region "a center for reconstruction, globalization and reorganization" with the entry of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a major player. In addition to its regional influence in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, Saudi Arabia is one of the leading actors in the Islamic world and has a central role in global energy policy
Energy policy
Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
.
Role
The Council was formed to act as an organizational mechanism that coordinates the Kingdom's internal and external policies relating to national security, enabling it to respond effectively to rapidly changing domestic, regional and international environments. It has the power to declare war and investigate security agencies if they are involved in acts that threaten national security. The latter role was deemed necessary since some security agencies are suspected to have been infiltrated by Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
, including the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice
Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Saudi Arabia)
The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice or HAIA is the Saudi Arabian government bureaucracy employing "religious police" or mutaween to...
or religious police.
Despite the formation of the Council, as with other Saudi government institutions, major national security decisions will continue to be taken by the most senior members of the royal family
House of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
, including King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and Prince Nayef.
Membership
The SNSC is chaired by the King (who is also Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Saudi Arabia
The Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia is formally the Head of government under the Malik , the rather absolute Head of State of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.-History:...
), with the Crown Prince (who is also Deputy Prime Minister) as deputy chairman. Its affairs are coordinated by a permanent Secretary General. At the time of its formation, other members included the Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for handling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's external relations. The ministry oversees "political, cultural and financial international relations" and monitors the Kingdom's diplomatic relations. It was created in 1930 by a royal decree...
, Deputy Commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard
Saudi Arabian National Guard
The Saudi Arabian National Guard is a separate military force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is not part of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces, due to its specific role as a counterbalance to the regular military. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force...
and head of the General Intelligence Presidency
Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah
The Ri'āsat Al-Istikhbārāt Al-'Āmah , or the General Intelligence Presidency , is the primary intelligence agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.- History :...
.
| Saudi National Security Council | |
|---|---|
| Chairman Prime Minister Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia The Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia is formally the Head of government under the Malik , the rather absolute Head of State of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.-History:... |
King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005... |
| Deputy Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defence and General Aviation |
|
| Secretary General | Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud Bandar bin Sultan Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is a prince of the Saudi royal family and was Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah on 16 October 2005... |
| Minister of the Interior | Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for handling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's external relations. The ministry oversees "political, cultural and financial international relations" and monitors the Kingdom's diplomatic relations. It was created in 1930 by a royal decree... |
Prince Saud al-Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud |
| General Intelligence President Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah The Ri'āsat Al-Istikhbārāt Al-'Āmah , or the General Intelligence Presidency , is the primary intelligence agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.- History :... |
Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud |
Secretaries General
The following is the list of Secretaries General of the Saudi National Security Council since 2005:- Prince Bandar bin SultanBandar bin SultanBandar bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is a prince of the Saudi royal family and was Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. He was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah on 16 October 2005...
(16 October 2005)