Saudi Arabia has urged the international community to enhance cooperation in preventing terrorist groups from harnessing artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. During 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 collaborating by sharing knowledge, fortifying national capabilities, and investing in long-term initiatives to counter evolving security threats.
Alwasil issued a warning about the rapid technological advancements that have opened new avenues for extremist organizations to recruit, disseminate propaganda, finance operations, and orchestrate attacks. He pointed to Yemen as a critical area of concern, noting that terrorist factions, including the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda, are attempting to leverage technologies such as drones and other advanced systems. Alwasil emphasized the necessity for governments to enhance their readiness to stay ahead of the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by terrorist networks.
The Saudi envoy underlined that successful counterterrorism strategies require more than just military and security measures. He advocated for the development of robust institutions, modern legal frameworks, international alliances, and ongoing investments in both human and technical expertise to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism. He further stated that capacity-building efforts must be customized to align with the unique needs and priorities of individual nations and should be executed in close partnership with their governments to achieve sustainable outcomes.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in global counterterrorism initiatives, Alwasil mentioned the Kingdom’s instrumental contribution to establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, along with its provision of $110 million to aid member states in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Saudi Arabia also actively participates in the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. Additionally, the Kingdom set up the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which utilizes advanced technology to monitor extremist content, counteract online propaganda, and raise public awareness.
Alwasil also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, stating that the Kingdom has collaborated with local authorities to bolster the country’s security institutions. These efforts, he explained, have enhanced the ability to identify and disrupt financial and logistical networks that support terrorist groups, while also preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. According to Alwasil, these initiatives have helped foster greater security and stability by curbing opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations.