**3. Conclusions**

This paper demonstrated recent shifts in the foreign policy behavior of Saudi Arabia under the pressures brought to the Middle East geopolitical background by the 2011 Arab uprisings and in light of the country's special use of Islam as a foreign policy tool. As it was argued, the current context is mainly driven by a continued balance of power game between Iran and Saudi Arabia and is aggravated by additional factors such as sectarian divisions and intra-Sunni competitions, as well as the US role in various fronts.

Under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, Saudi foreign policy behavior is marked by an abrupt change from cautiousness and reserve towards brinkmanship and a destabilizing e ffect in the region. While regime security and survival remain the absolute priorities, the "Salman Doctrine" brought a "hard power" character to foreign policy decision-making and foreign policy implementation, as it aimed at swiftly gaining a hegemonic regional role, while containing the threats of Iranian expansionism and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood both at home and in the wider Gulf.

However, as these foreign policy choices produced considerably negative results for the international image of Saudi Arabia, it was also shown that such excessive belligerence is now contained in favor of a more "moderate" approach, towards diplomacy and multilateralism, though without signaling a return to a foreign policy attitude that resembles the characteristics of defensive realism. In addition, the crown prince has put forward a discourse promoting a return to a "moderate Islam". As contradictory as it sounds for a country that has hardly ever demonstrated moderation in its religious practices at home and abroad, it was shown that the notion of "moderate Islam" is deployed anew as a foreign policy tool to serve a double purpose: On the one hand, it aims to promote an image of openness and tolerance that will strengthen its international image and restore its position as Custodian of the Muslim faith, whilst attracting foreign investment in the kingdom. On the other hand, it will also whitewash recent signs of authoritarianism, while justifying the recent rapprochement with Israel in a common front against Iran, thus strengthening the Saudi role in the Gulf region and beyond.

Finally, this paper reflected on the "moderate Islam" discourse as a foreign policy tool and its relation with domestic developments, namely the 'Vision 2030' program and the potential direction of the kingdom with regards to the sort of Islam to which it aims to adhere. While it is too early to predict whether Saudi Arabia will move towards a Salafi nationalism, the current external discourse on moderation seems in stark contrast with the authoritarian rule that MBS has demonstrated internally. Largely viewed as an attempt to silence any opposition and sideline any potential challenge to his way to the throne, the crackdown on religious, business, and royal figures, human rights activists, and journalists could potentially have a boomerang e ffect on the international level. Recent social reforms aimed at improving the kingdom's image are viewed as a mere public relations campaign, while opposition to the crown prince's path to the throne may occur from marginalized and discontented members of the royal family or the religious and business elite.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The author declares no conflict of interest.
