Dr Abdullah Alshammri
When a leader or a dear one passes away, a lot of peers and colleagues, lovers and sympathisers write an obituary and eulogy in order to express their thoughts and feelings about this relationship of the past and its special memories.
Often, the flattery is linked to the personal life of the deceased, which is a way of expressing loyalty and gratitude, and having the opportunity to tell the truth.
Last Friday, I personally had the honour to write in the New York Times the obituary of the late Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was known as Saud Al Faisal: “Prince Saud did not take hasty or emotional decisions.”
And I described his diplomacy, saying: “His diplomacy was traditional, conservative, quiet and logical.”
The judgment of Prince Saud Al Faisal’s departure looks different for me and probably for many of those who care about Saudi Arabia’s foreign and diplomatic policy.
This is not only due to the weight and size of his impact locally, and at the Gulf, Arab and international levels, but because of the institutional and professional loss. Prince Saud confronted all attacks against Saudi, Gulf, Arab and perhaps Islamic foreign policies.
He was an integral part of diverting such attacks for four decades, when the world and especially the Middle East have witnessed many historic and grave events, including for example, the Iranian Revolution, the Iraq-Iran war, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the events of September 11 and its aftermath, the American invasion of Iraq and finally the waves of Arab revolutions.
Prince Saud Al Faisal’s diplomacy is a natural extension of the first diplomatic school that was initiated by “Prince” Faisal bin Abdulaziz in 1919, when he was assigned the first foreign mission on behalf of his father, King Abdulaziz.
During this historic undertaking, he visited England on an official request from King George V on the occasion of Britain’s victory in
World War I.
Before becoming king, Prince Faisal took over the responsibility of foreign deputy in November 21, 1930 until a decree was issued to establish the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served until 1960, when Sheikh Ibrahim
Al Suwaiyel took his post until 1962.
However, “Prince” Faisal returned as foreign minister and continued to serve in the ministry until his coronation to the throne in November 1, 1964 till his martyrdom — may Allah have mercy on him — on March 25, 1975.
Faisal’s diplomacy is characterised by many qualities that only a specialist may identify, the most important of which are perseverance, seriousness, candour, clarity, sharp memory, and best manners while preserving prestige and firmness when it comes to national interests.
King Faisal and Prince Saud always refused the idea of “paying to purchase political positions”. During about 85 years, both of them exemplify dozens of historical situations with countries and leaders in favour of the Kingdom for their extraordinary persuasive ways and sacrifices.
We may say that Faisal’s diplomacy is characterised by a mix of a Saudi political and diplomatic asset with a Hijazi appearance, which was a natural result for the survival of the Foreign Ministry in Jeddah until the year 1985 (1405 Hijri).
Prince Saud Al Faisal acted as a diplomatic umbrella that prevented a lot of crises and wars, and covered up a lot of mistakes that are witnessed by those who closely worked with him.
The fulfilment of Prince Saud Al Faisal is not only to praise him, but even to try to walk the line of his personal and diplomatic works, which reflected true nationalism. He used to work hard without expecting praises or compliments from anyone.
One reason that makes the loss of Saud Al Faisal irreparable is due to him being an integral part of many historical secrets and memories related to Saudi Arabia’s practice of foreign diplomacy and politics.
Therefore, his departure means the absence and disappearance of a treasure trove of political values, secrets and memories, which the late Prince did not have enough time to transfer or some influential figures did not succeed in documenting them.
Certainly, Saudi diplomacy after the late Saud Al Faisal will not be the same. The Foreign Ministry will not be as it was in terms of role, influence and priority.
I ask God to have mercy on the deceased and grant him a better life in the Hereafter.
The writer is a political analyst.
