According to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Middle East countries have become some of the largest arms importers in the world over the past decade. At the same time, the bulk of purchases falls on Saudi Arabia, which over the past five years has increased their volume immediately by 61%.
The international editorial staff of the Federal News Agency investigated, why Riyadh leads the list of key arms buyers, what is it used for and why the country may give up leadership in the coming years.
Weapons Import Study
SIPRI experts compared the volume of world arms supplies over the period 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 years. It revealed, that over the past five years they have increased by a quarter. The most massive growth was noted by the already mentioned Saudis (61%), Egypt (136% and Qatar (361%). At the same time, it is Riyadh that remains the main purchaser of weapons in the region..
The main exporter remains the United States.: over a five-year period, they increased their share in the world market to 37 percent. According to experts, largely significant growth in exports from the United States, France and Germany was stimulated by a reduction in the supply of Russian and Chinese weapons.
“It's too early to talk about, Is the period of rapid increase in arms supplies over the past two decades over?. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to, that some states will reconsider their arms imports in the coming years. However, even in the midst of a pandemic in 2020 year, several countries signed major contracts for the supply of major weapons ", - reported Peter Weseman, Senior Research Fellow, SIPRI.
Major arms suppliers to Saudi Arabia
The United States has been the main supplier of weapons to Saudi Arabia over the past decade - they accounted for 73% products purchased by Riyadh. Until recently, the countries continued to build up partnerships in this area..
So, at 2020 year, the Saudis signed a contract with the American aerospace corporation Boeing for the export of more than a thousand anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles and the modernization of those, that have already been delivered earlier. The deal amounted to over two billion dollars.
Also at the end of October 2020, the Pentagon's Office of Military Cooperation notified Congress about the possible sale of weapons and military equipment to Riyadh for a total amount 60 billions of dollars. among other things,, The United States was ready to sell the latest Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopters to its partner, fighters F-15SA Strike Eagle, as well as dozens of transport, light and reconnaissance helicopters.
However, 2021 trade relations between Washington and Riyadh have undergone significant changes: at the end of January, the administration of the American president Joe Biden temporarily suspended some contracts for arms sales to Saudi allies, to revise them.
Saudi Arabia tried to save face. One of the princes Abdul Rahman bin Musaed Al Saud 12 March declared, that the kingdom has many alternatives to American weapons. As it appears, I meant examples from recent history, when the country bought weapons from the UK and France due to Washington's restrictive measures.
Saudi prince, who currently does not hold official government posts, obviously, downplayed the Biden administration's stance on this issue. He explained the decision of the States by the presidential election promises, assuming, that very soon the politician will refuse them.
Russian weapons
Against the background of the loss of a key supplier, Riyadh may well become interested in Russian weapons. Columnist for the American magazine The National Interest Mark Episcopos named five types of weapons, which Saudi Arabia could acquire from the Russian Federation.
First of all, the analyst noted anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) Long-range S-400. Information about the achievement of a preliminary agreement on the purchase of several regiments of the air defense system between Moscow and Riyadh appeared in 2017 year.
Saudi Arabia was also interested in the Su-35 multipurpose fighters.. The Royal Air Force fleet now has a little less than 200 aging F-15 Eagles, which the Saudis are trying to replace.
AT 2019 year Riyadh discussed with the Russian Federation a contract for the internal production of AK-103 and cartridges for it, and also decided to import a large batch of machines.
Moscow also has a contract with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) for the supply of a heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A "Solntsepek", signed in 2017 year. As part of this agreement, Riyadh also received the opportunity to produce TOC domestically..
Finally, fifth type of weapon, Saudi Arabian, Episkopos calls anti-tank missile system (ATRA) Cornet. The already mentioned SAMI has purchased an improved version of the ATGM - "Kornet-EM".
Why does Saudi Arabia need so many weapons?
The main reason, according to which Riyadh holds the lead in the import of weapons, was the participation of the kingdom in the hostilities in Yemen. Saudi Arabia came into conflict after, how in 2014 year, Shiite rebels, Houthis, overthrew the country's internationally recognized government.
Riyadh was confident, that the movement "Ansar Allah" receives support from Iran, who allegedly deliberately unleashed a war in the region. The intervention of the kingdom only exacerbated the confrontation in the country and made it even more destructive.
In the early stages, Saudi airstrikes helped government forces push back the rebels, but it was not possible to defeat them. Gradually, the key allies of Riyadh in the Saudi coalition began to refuse to participate in the Yemeni campaign. Besides, the Houthis intensified missile attacks across the kingdom and attacks on its oil facilities.
In this regard, Saudi Arabia needed more and more weapons to conduct regular hostilities.. Received it mainly from the USA until then, until the world community paid attention to the numerous incidents of war crimes in Yemen.
“Saudi Arabia is abusing its own forces and damaging its own reputation, when committing these abuses against the Yemeni people, not bearing responsibility for them ", - quoted by the TV channel Al-Jazeera Michael Page, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
HRW report, in particular, reported cases of arbitrary arrest, violent acts against persons, detainees in the eastern province of Al-Mahra, indiscriminate bombing and other violations of humanitarian law. In fact, these allegations jeopardized the import of weapons into the country..
Cash limit
In addition to the condemnation of the international community, Saudi Arabia faced another problem., which affects future arms deliveries - a financial deficit. Crown Prince program launched in the country Muhammad bin Salman Vision 2030. It involves diversifying the kingdom's oil economy, health care reform, education, infrastructure, as well as improving the living standards of citizens. Currently 80% Riyadh's revenues depend on oil. Considering, that raw material prices have dropped dramatically, the Saudis slashed government spending.
In these conditions, spending funds and sending the military to a losing war in Yemen in advance seems to be a waste of money.. According to the Wilson Think Tank, cost of air, land and sea operations in the region can cost the coalition 200 million dollars a day.
“Riyadh understands very well, that his sudden departure from Yemen will play into the hands of the Houthis and their external benefactor - Iran ", - said Associate Professor Thomas Juno of the University of Ottawa to the think tank Sana'a Center.
obviously, that large investments in the intervention in Yemen are unlikely to help restore the Saudi economy. The kingdom authorities cannot fail to understand, that huge spending on the purchase of weapons will only continue to drive the country into a pit of lack of money. Exactly this, perhaps, will soon lead to, that Saudi Arabia will give up its position as the main importer of weapons in the world and reduce imports of weapons.
Author: Evgeny Bichesky