Pakistan and Saudi Arabia consider the need for defense industrial cooperation

The third defense cooperation meeting between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was held in Rawalpindi this week, where cooperation was discussed.

Pakistan Army Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday that the defense cooperation meeting was held at the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on January 8.

According to the statement, the participants discussed issues of mutual interest and the evolving security situation, while the two countries “considered the need for rapid development in military technology and defense industrial cooperation to achieve common goals.”

The ISPR statement said the two countries “reiterated their desire to enhance defense cooperation in all sectors to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of defense production.”

The meeting also considered the need to find more ways to increase the speed of defense cooperation.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have continuously developed a strong strategic relationship over the years and Pakistan has been providing military training and consultancy to Saudi Arabia.

Apart from bilateral military exercises, Saudi Arabian forces have also been participating in Pakistan’s multi-lateral exercises on land and sea.

The strength of bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries was reiterated on the occasion of the visit of Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir to Saudi Arabia in January last year.

Saudi Arabia is a close ally of Pakistan and in mid-July 2023, Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) signed a stand-by arrangement agreement worth three billion dollars, with Saudi Arabia providing two billion dollars and the United Arab Emirates one. Billion dollars were deposited in the Central Bank of Pakistan.

Pakistani officials have been saying in recent months that an investment of 25 billion dollars is expected from Saudi Arabia in the next five years.

According to official data provided by the Government of Pakistan, about 2.5 million Pakistanis reside in Saudi Arabia for employment, which is the largest source of foreign remittances to the country.

Trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey

According to the ISPR statement, the second meeting of trilateral defense cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey was also held in Rawalpindi on January 8, during which possible cooperation in defense equipment technology including research and development was discussed. .

According to ISPR, the three countries reiterated the importance of pooling technical, financial and human resources to achieve common goals and achieve self-sufficiency in the defense sector and to increase the speed of cooperation to achieve common goals. Also discussed.

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