"Saudi Arabia Wants To Be A Major Military Power" Topic

"In the more assertive Saudi Arabia that's emerging after the Arab Spring, war is no longer taboo as an instrument of policy and Washington's approval isn't required.

Once known for cautious diplomacy, the oil-rich kingdom is turning more frequently to hard power. The shift has been under way since unrest swept across the Arab world in 2011. It accelerated after the succession of King Salman in January, and the promotion as defense chief of his son, who's part of the Saudi delegation meeting President Barack Obama at Camp David on Thursday.

Since the overhaul, the Saudis have started an air war in Yemen against Shiite Muslim rebels they accuse of being tools of Iran…"
Full article here
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Saudi Arabia has spent the money to be a military power …. but spending money to be a military power and BEING a military are two separate things. But where it gets really scary is when countries like Saudi Arabia are no longer interested in just being a strong military power …. but something "bigger"

Amicalement
Armand

Well, so far, they've proven themselves inept. Paper tigers!

They'd need efficient, modern soldiers and officers. A totally un islamic/ middle eastern way towards technology learning and even more important disseminating knowledge.

Is this a joke? Saudis as a military power?

Where would they get enough troops? Hire Phillipinos?

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I don't think the Saudis *want* to be a military power. I think they would much prefer the paradigm of the past 50 years, of the U.S. ready to step in to deploy troops, patrol ships or aircraft, or otherwise save their butts.

But, for better or for worse, the lessons they are learning from the past couple years is that they have to provide their own security, and they can not depend on the U.S. to do it for them.

You can read that as a positive or negative politically, but it does mean that they believe they have to be more active, less reactive in any case. The Saudis were clever in having planned since the '70s to develop a more robust all-around military capability, and now they need it.

What's especially interesting from a wargaming pov is that they just don't have the population numbers ready to step in and serve. Hence their attempts to persuade the Pakistanis to deploy. The next step will be asking the Egyptians to deploy (look at the fascinating history of Egyptian intervention in Yemen at Saudi behest), just because they need more numbers on the ground than they will ever have in a Saudi Army or National Guard.

They have the world's fourth or fifth biggest military budget on Earth. That's already major.
In terms of professionalism and leadership though, others above have already stated their limitations.

Not the best record for professionalism and leadership, etc., can be said about a number of armies in this region …

Let's see…

Amicalement
Armand

They have the wealth why don't they hire an army. Wouldn't be the first time a nation did that.