Saudi Arabia has urged the global community to enhance cooperation in order to prevent terrorist groups from exploiting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. During a United Nations General Assembly session dedicated to strategic capacity building, Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed the importance of countries working collaboratively. He emphasized the need for nations to exchange expertise, bolster national capabilities, and invest in long-term initiatives to counter evolving security threats.
Alwasil highlighted the rapid technological advancements that have given extremist groups new tools to recruit members, disseminate propaganda, and plan attacks. Yemen was identified as a particular area of concern, with groups like the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda attempting to leverage technologies such as drones. Alwasil stated that governments need to enhance their readiness to match the sophisticated tactics employed by terrorist networks.
The Saudi envoy underscored that counterterrorism efforts must extend beyond military measures. He advocated for strong institutions, modern legal frameworks, and international partnerships, alongside continuous investment in both human and technical expertise, as essential components in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Alwasil also emphasized the importance of tailoring capacity-building initiatives to the specific requirements and priorities of individual countries, ensuring they are implemented in close coordination with local governments for effective and lasting outcomes.
Saudi Arabia’s active role in global counterterrorism was also highlighted. Alwasil noted the Kingdom’s significant contribution in establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, providing $110 million to aid member states in the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The country is also involved in various initiatives such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has founded the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which employs advanced technologies to monitor extremist content and counter online propaganda.
Furthermore, Alwasil mentioned Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. He highlighted efforts to strengthen Yemen’s security institutions in collaboration with local authorities. These initiatives have reportedly improved capabilities to identify and disrupt financial and logistical networks aiding terrorist groups, and prevented the transfer of advanced technologies and military capabilities to extremists. Alwasil concluded that these efforts have significantly contributed to enhancing security and stability by limiting the chances for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their influence.
