아프리카ㆍ중동

This study analyzes the oil cooperation between Saudi Arabia and neighbor countries including the five GCC countries, Jordan, Iraq and Yemen. The oil-producing GCC countries’ direct oil trades with Saudi Arabia remain at low levels. However, except for Qatar, their oil cooperation will be strengthened because they maintain close relationships with Saudi Arabia which exerts strong influence on them. Jordan and Iraq are also expected to have stronger oil cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, cooperation with Yemen will be in trouble under the current situation. Saudi Arabia considers forming a cooperative relationship with Israel and fortifying the current cooperation with the U.S. in response to the increasing power of Iran recently enabled by the Syrian civil war. However, this policy might cause serious damage to the legitimacy of Saudi Arabia, particularly with regard to its leading role in the Sunni Islamic world and among the Arab countries. As a result, Saudi Arabia will intend to increase support domestically and regionally. Therefore, in the energy sector, Saudi Arabia will expand both its one-way support and mutual cooperation within the region to retain its leadership position.