In the Middle East today, there are two major players in the geopolitics of the region-Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both coutnries are using the Middle East as a playground to battle each other for influence, particularly in Syria and Yemen where they support rival factions in both countries. The cold war between the two is supported by countries outside of the region, particularly the United States and it's support to Saudi Arabia. Both the cold war itself and the involvement of outside powers have irrevocably changed the Middle East.
So, let's imagine the geopolitical situation in the Middle East WITHOUT Saudi Arabia. In an alternate timeline, Mohammad Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab is executed and Ibn Saud never unites the country. World War I proceeds as normal, except for the absence of the Arab Revolt due to Hussein supporting the Ottomans in this timeline. Egypt still becomes a British protectorate after the Ottoman declaration of war in 1914.
What we know of as Saudi Arabia becomes a British mandate. The southern tips of the mandate are taken over by Yemen. British Bahrain and Kuwait take over sections on the east coast. The Hejaz region is taken over by Egypt. This includes the holy cities of Mecca and Medina
After World War II, the British further partition the peninsula. Now, they divide the mandate into a Hashemite-run Sunni-majority country in the north, bordering Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, and a Shi'ite country in the eastern half, bordering the Persian Gulf and Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.
What impact would the non-existence of Saudi Arabia have on the geopolitics of the region? Does Saddam Hussein still rise in Iraq? Does Iran still become a Islamic theocracy?
So, let's imagine the geopolitical situation in the Middle East WITHOUT Saudi Arabia. In an alternate timeline, Mohammad Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab is executed and Ibn Saud never unites the country. World War I proceeds as normal, except for the absence of the Arab Revolt due to Hussein supporting the Ottomans in this timeline. Egypt still becomes a British protectorate after the Ottoman declaration of war in 1914.
What we know of as Saudi Arabia becomes a British mandate. The southern tips of the mandate are taken over by Yemen. British Bahrain and Kuwait take over sections on the east coast. The Hejaz region is taken over by Egypt. This includes the holy cities of Mecca and Medina
After World War II, the British further partition the peninsula. Now, they divide the mandate into a Hashemite-run Sunni-majority country in the north, bordering Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, and a Shi'ite country in the eastern half, bordering the Persian Gulf and Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.
What impact would the non-existence of Saudi Arabia have on the geopolitics of the region? Does Saddam Hussein still rise in Iraq? Does Iran still become a Islamic theocracy?