KSA to localise Defense Manufacturing by 50 %

The Saudi Vision 2030 is primarily concerned with diversifying the oil and gas exploration ,refining and petrochemical economy and acquiring self sufficiency in the defense and security fields to reduce external reliance, provide business and vending opportunities for Saudi businesses , generate employment for its citizens to ward of discontent and slash defense expenditure in order to free up finances for health and education for the citizens. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) feels constrained in projecting an image of a modern and progressive state as in the realm of security and defense it continues to be dependent on regional countries and the US which severely restricts its regional diplomatic maneuverability and engagement with trade blocs.The Saudi Vision 2030 aims to attain a target of manufacturing  of defense equipment upto the extent of 50 % by the year 2030.

The Saudi Arabia Military Industry (SAMI) , a subsidiary of Saudia’s Public Investment Fund , has inked agreements of an amount of $ 1.8 billion with three Saudi banks for financing of projects  launched for the purpose of indigenisation of defence industry and establishing  of local defense manufacturing capacity.Foreign procurement of weaponry has proven to be exorbitant and on occasions has depleted the KSA revenues.

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UAE  and Military Drone Technology

The United Arab Emirates is also embarking upon joint ventures in drone technology and unmanned aerial technology for safety and avoiding of congestion in the skies, traffic management with applications in the field of electronic warfare and cyber technology, cluster of missile platform and precision munitions and remote naval operations. The UAE population is low with a huge migrant community hence significantly visible emphasis is being placed on unmanned aerial surveillance technologies for maintaining security and interfacing with databases .

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Playing off Big Powers rather then Reacting to Bogey

The primary corporate entity tasked to accomplish UAE’s mission of acquiring and transfer of sophisticated technology and utilising of artificial intelligence (AI) is the EDGE company which has entered into a joint venture in the range of $ 14 million with High Lands , an Israeli owned drone fleet firm.No holds are barred it seems and the Gulf countries are increasingly turning inwards to boost up local civilian and military digital expertise and armament manufacturing as these countries perhaps now realise that the specter of Iran and Yemen should not be the main reason to shape their foreign policies. Instead an independent and self sufficient defense manufacturing capability can strengthen their ability to play of the big powers and at the same to assert their economic sovereignty.

Religious Legitimacy

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Some view the Saudi Vision 2030 as a sinister scheme to acquire nuclear capability for military purposes as it can utilize its vast uranium reserves and move from mining to fuel fabrication of nuclear fuel.  Saudi Arabia retains the basic version of the Small Quantities Protocol which exempts the country from extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency .  Iran and KSA traditionally derive religious legitimacy from the pilgrimages and congregations regularly taking place in the two countries and have been vying for regional supremacy and relations have remained outrightly hostile. Yet economic sense seems to have prevailed and through Chinese brokered talks Iran and KSA have resumed diplomatic relations and are likely to reopen embassies in a few weeks . Till such time as advancement in defense manufacturing and cyber warfare capability is achieved UAE and KSA have forged close and strategic ties and relationships with Israel and Turkiye respectively so as to contain any aggression by neighbouring countries.

By Nadir Mumtaz