- Decades-long defence relationship between the UK and the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deepen following bilateral meetings
- Ministers agree to continue work towards building a
partnership to explore development of advanced new weapons
systems, including precision-guided missiles and armoured
vehicles
The defence relationship between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia has deepened, after the Defence Secretary and Minister for
Defence Procurement met their counterparts in Riyadh, where they
agreed to progress work on creating a partnership to develop
advanced new capabilities.
Alongside bilateral meetings at the World Defence Show, Defence
Secretary and Minister for Defence
Procurement, , met their counterparts,
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud and His
Excellency Talal Al-Otaibi, to discuss ways in which both
countries could combine industry expertise and capabilities.
Further bilateral engagement will continue to build on our
strategic defence partnership through equipment collaboration,
the exchange of ideas, joint training and doctrine,
industrialisation, and human capital development.
Defence Secretary, said:
In an increasingly contested world, where we can no longer rely
on a peace dividend and must be prepared to respond to growing
threats, reinforcing our key defence relationships with allies
and partners is more important than ever.
The UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share a decades-long
defence partnership, founded in mutual security interest,
reliable UK support, and longstanding industrial collaboration.
We will continue working to build our relationship even further,
strengthening and deepening our collaboration for the future.
A particular focus for planned collaboration will be land-based
systems including air defence capabilities and armoured vehicles,
and uncrewed aerial systems along with complex weapons including
precision-guided missiles.
This would be achieved through the creation of a Strategic
Capability Partnership Committee, with a focus on developing
cooperation in equipment and industry, research and development,
and training.
Minister for Defence Procurement, , said:
This is a significant moment as we work towards laying a
foundation for closer collaboration between the UK and Saudi
Arabia, drawing on the expertise of our defence industries.
Strengthening our relationship in the long term will invigorate
the UK defence industry, and allow us to go even further in
building the advanced new capabilities which will keep us safe
from the threats of the future.
The UK and KSA share a decades-long defence partnership, founded
in mutual security interest, reliable UK support and longstanding
industrial collaboration.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Defence Secretary to
hold bilateral meetings with his counterpart, and to reaffirm the
relationship between both countries.
