At a United Nations General Assembly session focused on strategic capacity building, Saudi Arabia has urged for enhanced global collaboration to prevent terrorist organizations from taking advantage of artificial intelligence and other new technologies. Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, underscored the importance of countries working together by sharing knowledge, bolstering national capabilities, and investing in long-term initiatives to counter evolving security threats. Alwasil cautioned that the rapid technological advancements present new opportunities for extremist groups to recruit, disseminate propaganda, fund their activities, and orchestrate attacks.
Alwasil particularly highlighted the situation in Yemen, noting that terrorist organizations such as the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda are attempting to exploit technologies like drones and other advanced systems. He stressed the necessity for governments to enhance their preparedness to keep up with the increasingly sophisticated tactics of terrorist networks. According to Alwasil, an effective counterterrorism strategy goes beyond military and security measures and requires robust institutions, modern legal frameworks, and international partnerships.
Saudi Arabia’s contribution to global counterterrorism efforts was also emphasized by Alwasil. The Kingdom played a pivotal role in establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, providing a total of $110 million to assist member states in executing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Saudi Arabia is 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 also founded the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which leverages advanced technology to monitor extremist content, counteract online propaganda, and raise public awareness.
Alwasil further pointed out Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, emphasizing efforts to strengthen the country’s security institutions in collaboration with local authorities. These actions, he stated, have enhanced the ability to identify and disrupt financial and logistical networks supporting terrorist groups and prevent the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. According to Alwasil, such initiatives have contributed to increased security and stability by reducing the opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and broaden their operations.