Saudi Arabia has urged for enhanced global collaboration to prevent terrorist groups from taking advantage of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. At a United Nations General Assembly session focused on strategic capacity building, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, stressed the importance of countries uniting to share expertise, bolster national capabilities, and invest in long-term initiatives to combat evolving security threats. Alwasil underscored that the swift technological advancements present new opportunities for extremists to recruit, spread propaganda, fund their operations, and orchestrate attacks.
Alwasil highlighted Yemen as a significant area of concern, noting that terrorist organizations like the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda aim to leverage technologies such as drones and other advanced systems. He called for governments to enhance their readiness to keep up with the increasingly complex tactics employed by terrorist networks. According to him, effective counterterrorism is more than just military and security operations; it requires strong institutions, modern legal frameworks, international partnerships, and ongoing investment in human and technical expertise. Alwasil emphasized the importance of tailoring capacity-building efforts to the unique needs and priorities of individual countries, working closely with their governments to ensure enduring results.
In highlighting Saudi Arabia’s contributions to global counterterrorism, Alwasil mentioned the Kingdom’s pivotal role in founding the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, along with providing $110 million to aid member states in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Additionally, Saudi Arabia remains actively involved in initiatives such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. The Kingdom has also established the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which employs advanced technology to monitor extremist content, combat online propaganda, and raise public awareness.
Alwasil also drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. He stated that the Kingdom has been working to fortify Yemen’s security institutions in coordination with local authorities. These efforts have enhanced the ability to identify and disrupt financial and logistical networks that support terrorist groups while preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. According to Alwasil, these initiatives have significantly contributed to improved security and stability by reducing opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations.