Saudi-Indonesian Relations: Historical Dynamics and Contemporary Development

In this article, we focus on the bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, placing the contemporary development of the mutual relationships and cooperation between these two Muslim-majority nations into historical context. Moreover, we describe not only formal political economic relationships but also informal cultural, educational, religious relations between the two states. We argue that although socioreligious and people-topeople interactions are vital in the relations, these are not the only factors in the inherently pragmatic contemporary relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Indonesia, which is built increasingly on the basis of national interests.