UK and Saudi Arabia boost defense ties
Following US President Donald Trump’s whirlwind Gulf tour, the UK is now strengthening its security partnership with Saudi Arabia signaling that power dynamics might be shifting in the Middle East.
May 28 marked the end of a two-day conference in London between UK Defence Secretary John Healey, and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Khalid bin Salman. As reported by the National, Healy branded the country a “vital partner” for the UK’s ongoing security initiatives in the Middle East.
The UK has long concentrated its relationship with Saudi Arabia on security, often facilitating the flow of arms into the country. But after Trump’s Gulf tour earlier in May–marked by billions of dollars in regional investments– the UK is following the US and intensifying its engagement.
In the meeting, the two Defense Ministers explored avenues to deepen defense cooperation “in ways that serve mutual interest,” according to the official Saudi Press Agency. They also discussed regional and international developments.
As in reports of the US-Saudi meeting, “long-standing historic ties” were emphasized repeatedly.
One of Saudi Arabia’s main initiatives from the talks was to embed itself into Western-led defense systems, most notably, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Launched in 2022 as a multi-nation effort between the UK, Italy, and Japan, GCAP is supposed to deliver “the Tempest”, a so-called sixth-generation fighter jet meant to replace the RAF’s Typhoons by 2035.
The Tempest will have the ability to fly without a pilot and direct swarm of drones. It will also be equipped with artificial intelligence and carry a formidable arsenal of missiles and directed-energy lasers.
Riyadh has been lobbying hard since 2023 to become the fourth pillar of the world’s “most advanced aircraft.”
While the UK has welcomed Riyadh’s ambitions, Japan is more cautious, having initially opposed the Kingdom’s inclusion for fears it might delay the project’s tight deadline. The GCAP alliance plans to build the jet in half the time it took to launch the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Italy, the final leg of the alliance, has backed the Saudi’s joining, with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto highlighting that the Kingdom has an abundance of resources and “the need for technical growth.”
The National / Maghrebi
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