Saudi Arabia has urged for enhanced global cooperation to prevent terrorist groups from leveraging artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, underscored this call during a United Nations General Assembly session focused on strategic capacity building. He emphasized the importance of nations collaborating by sharing expertise, bolstering national defenses, and investing in enduring capacity-building measures to counter the evolving threats posed by these technologies.
Alwasil expressed concerns that the swift advancements in technology have enabled extremist factions to recruit, disseminate propaganda, fund their operations, and orchestrate attacks with greater efficiency. He identified Yemen as a critical area of focus, noting that terrorist groups, including the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda, are attempting to exploit technologies like drones. Alwasil stressed the necessity for governments to enhance their readiness to keep up with the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by these networks.
Beyond military and security responses, Alwasil highlighted the importance of robust institutions, modern legal frameworks, international alliances, and ongoing investments in both human and technical expertise as essential components in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. He advocated for tailored capacity-building initiatives that address the specific needs and priorities of individual countries, carried out in close partnership with local governments to ensure lasting impact.
Saudi Arabia’s contributions to international counterterrorism efforts were also highlighted by Alwasil. He noted the Kingdom’s pivotal role in establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, with $110 million contributed to support member states in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is actively involved in the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. The Kingdom’s Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, employs advanced technology to track extremist content, combat online propaganda, and raise public awareness.
Alwasil further emphasized Saudi Arabia’s continued support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, highlighting efforts to strengthen the country’s security infrastructure in collaboration with local authorities. These initiatives, he noted, have enhanced the capacity to detect and disrupt financial and logistical networks aiding terrorist groups while preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. Such efforts, according to Alwasil, have bolstered security and stability by curtailing opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations.