Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Saudis Seeking Arms Amid Growing Fears: Analysts

ASSAD ABBOUD
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7096426&c=MID&s=TOP

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's hunger for weapons, initially aimed at
staving off the threat of Iran, has grown with the upcoming U.S. withdrawal
from Iraq and instability in Yemen and Bahrain, analysts say.

"Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries in general realize that they must rely
on themselves to defend themselves during this critical period marked by the
beginning of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq," said Anwar Eshki, director of the
Middle East Institute for Strategic Studies.
About 46,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq and are due to leave by December 31
under an agreement with Baghdad, although U.S. officials have said they may
keep some there after the deadline if requested by Iraqi authorities.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has traditionally bought
U.S. and British arms, but it showed no hesitation in contacting a new
supplier, Berlin, with which it is negotiating the purchase of 200 Leopard
tanks, according to reports in Germany.

The order is worth some two billions euros ($2.8 billion), German magazine
Der Spiegel said on its website.

"The kingdom is looking for weapons in Germany and even in Russia, knowing
that with the vacuum left by the Americans in Iraq, Iran might begin to
extend its influence to the Levant reaching out to the Mediterranean sea,"
said Eshki.

"Gulf countries need to feel capable of facing any threat from Iran or Iraq,
as Kuwait and Bahrain are Saudi Arabia's last lines of defense," said the
Jeddah-based researcher.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, whose country sent about 1,000
troops to Bahrain, freeing up local security forces to crush a month-long
uprising, recently reiterated Riyadh's rejection of "foreign adventures" in
Bahrain, in a reference to Iran.

"Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have strategy to maintain their
security," Faisal said on July 5.

"If Iran wants to play a key role as a regional power, it must take into
account the interests of neighboring countries and not just its own," the
minister said.

Relations between the Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states and non-Arab,
predominantly Shiite Iran were strained following the March crackdown on
Shiite-led protests in Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia, a key player in Middle East politics, is also facing threats
from neighboring Yemen.

Yemen has since January been gripped by protests calling for the ouster of
its long-time president and also must contend with the threat of al-Qaida
militants.

"Saudi Arabia is facing new threats in Yemen, (and) Iran's nuclear
programm," said Theodore Karasik, the director for research and development
at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.

"This program raises fears due to its unclear nature. It represents a threat
to Saudis especially within the perspective of American withdrawal from Iraq
and the events in Syria and Lebanon," he said.

Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear bomb under the
guise of an energy program. Tehran vehemently denies the charges.

The United Nations has already slapped a wide range of sanctions on the
Islamic republic over its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program.

"Iran's war games also do not reassure the Saudis, who are paying attention
to Iran's behavior in the shadow of its ballistic missiles weapons," said
Karasik.

Saudi Arabia's "foreign policy is more aggressive; it is not like before
anymore - it is more assertive," he added.

The Saudis are diversifying their weapons suppliers but remain major
customers for U.S. weapons.

"Saudi Arabia's pre-eminent security partner for external and internal
defense remains the U.S., and this is unlikely to change for the foreseeable
future," says London-based Gulf region analyst Neil Partrick.

Saudi Arabia and the United States are holding negotiations on the final
details of a massive arms deal.

The United States said in November that the $60 billion deal would take
effect despite initial worries from U.S. lawmakers over its impact on
Israeli security.

The Pentagon unveiled plans on October 20 last year for the sale to Saudi
Arabia of 84 F-15 fighter jets, 70 Apache attack helicopters, 72 tactical
Black Hawk helicopters and 36 light helicopters, as well as upgrades for 70
F-15s.

The delivery of the weapons to the kingdom, thought to be the largest single
U.S. arms sale ever, would be spread across 15 to 20 years.

"However, potentially widening the arc of suppliers, and even possibly
advisers, fits a general trend seen for sometime in Saudi Arabia and in
other GCC states who want to ensure a broad range of diplomatic and possibly
security supporters on the international stage," said Partrick.

Assad Abboud reports for Agence France-Presse.

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

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