Saudi Arabia says it won't rule out building nuclear weapons

[Chinese-Dragon]

Saudi has the capability, money and resources to achieve such a thing.

It's a question of intent.

Saudi has the 4th (or even 3rd) largest defense budget in the world, they have significant conventional military strength compared to the rest of the region.

So I don't think Saudi "needs" nukes, but maybe they want nukes. And I don't blame them, we wanted nukes too.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Saudi has the 4th (or even 3rd) largest defense budget in the world, they have significant conventional military strength compared to the rest of the region

Pakistan bought fleet of Mirages from Libya in 2004 and most of the 20 year old fighters they were nearly brand new with spare parts still in original packaging. These Mirages were rarely flown and serviced. Having high defence budget does not translate into capability.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Saudi has the capability, money and resources to achieve such a thing.

It's a question of intent.

Saudi has the 4th (or even 3rd) largest defense budget in the world, they have significant conventional military strength compared to the rest of the region.

So I don't think Saudi "needs" nukes, but maybe they want nukes. And I don't blame them, we wanted nukes too.

Not to mention that KSA is the biggest surplus nation in the world together with our Chinese friends. Moreover KSA and the GCC alone have sovereign wealth funds that amount to 2.5 trillion dollars as of 2015 if not more. Aside from enormous investments all over the world. West as East and the Arab world.

Those mainly ignorant people here are mainly thinking about KSA as it was in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's and to an extent 1980's where KSA went through an tremendous development/modernization that was rarely seen in the modern world. At such a rapid speed that is.
One could argue that China went through a similar massive development in the recent 3-2 decades. Yet a minority still view China like they did before that massive development.

Although KSA is one of the richest nations in terms of GDP per capita and otherwise a rich nation it's still a developing nation that needs a lot of improvement on many if not all fronts. No way is this a "finished product". Not even close.

People don't realize that KSA's population is not 1.2 billion big like that of China and India or even 200 million big like Pakistan. Although the population is growing.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Pakistan bought fleet of Mirages from Libya in 2004 and most of the 20 year old fighters they were nearly brand new with spare parts still in original packaging. These Mirages were rarely flown and serviced. Having high defence budget does not translate into capability.

That's true, but all else being equal, having more money in the defense budget is better.

By some estimations, Saudi has a larger defense budget than even Russia.

List of countries by military expenditures - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Even if some money is being spent inefficiently (for whatever reason), that is still a colossal amount.

And that is a huge advantage in modern warfare.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

That's true, but all else being equal, having more money in the defense budget is better

Saudis will not fight a ground war with Iran since they know they will be defeated. They may only invade Yemen since there is no army but armed militias with small weapons. Saudis had Iraq attack Iran and in the 1980s that killed 2 million people. They are sponsoring Sunni terrorists in many Muslim countries especially in Pakistan. There are thousands of sons, grandsons, great-grandsons of first Saudi rules. These Saudi billionaire princes should go and fight their own war instead of hiring foreigners to fight and die for them.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Saudis will not fight a ground war with Iran since they know they will be defeated. They may only invade Yemen since there is no army but armed militias with small weapons. Saudis had Iraq attack Iran and in the 1980s that killed 2 million people. They are sponsoring Sunni terrorists in many Muslim countries especially in Pakistan. There are thousands of sons, grandsons, great-grandsons of first Saudi rules. These Saudi billionaire princes should go and fight their own war instead of hiring foreigners to fight and die for them.

Stop bullshitting and spare us your idiotic posts. Thank you.

That's true, but all else being equal, having more money in the defense budget is better.

By some estimations, Saudi has a larger defense budget than even Russia.

List of countries by military expenditures - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Even if some money is being spent inefficiently (for whatever reason), that is still a colossal amount.

And that is a huge advantage in modern warfare.

Sure but those numbers are abnormal. They might increase which is normal as the economy keeps growing all the time but the rabid growth in percentage that has happened in the past years is not foreseeable. It has mainly happened because KSA lies in the middle of the ME, notoriously known as one of the most unstable regions in the world sandwiched between Africa, Europe and the remaining Asia in the case of KSA.

Now and in the upcoming years/decades we will see the rise of a high-qualitiy indigenous military sector. Not only KSA but the GCC and much of the Arab world. Big investments have been made on this field and will continue to be made.

 

[Screambowl]

The use of Nuclear weapon will be too frequent in arab world, as they do not seem to be very responsible states. hence I do not go in favour of any arab country with High vulnerability having a nuclear weapon.

Where as Iran has showed responsibility and did not use it against any arab country other wise, they can in one strike bring all ISIS, AQ, and arab spring , all sort of protests and extremism to halt.

 

[PATHAN786KING]

Pakistan should give at least two bombs to every country in Middle East as they have more bombs than India and then.................Yawn!!

good idea we also want to give 2 nukes to india but................................... through shaheen 3

 

[Gufi]

Amazing... I was there a few weeks ago, I have travelled extensively in KSA not in just cities but outside as well; they just dont work. In hotels, the reception are the young KSA citizens, but the entire workforce in hotels in outsider labour who are treated as slaves.

I have spent more then 10 years there, yes there are problems but u see the direction the country is heading not where it is currently

Go outside the cities and see the poverty as well. It is not paradise they are making it out to be.

Have you been to the universities or not?

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Saudis will not fight a ground war with Iran since they know they will be defeated. They may only invade Yemen since there is no army but armed militias with small weapons. Saudis had Iraq attack Iran and in the 1980s that killed 2 million people. They are sponsoring Sunni terrorists in many Muslim countries especially in Pakistan. There are thousands of sons, grandsons, great-grandsons of first Saudi rules. These Saudi billionaire princes should go and fight their own war instead of hiring foreigners to fight and die for them.

I don't know much about the sectarian stuff going on in the Middle East, it's not really something I understand.

Sure but those numbers are abnormal. They might increase which is normal as the economy keeps growing all the time but the rabid growth in percentage that has happened in the past years is not foreseeable. It has mainly happened because KSA lies in the middle of the ME, notoriously known as one of the most unstable regions in the world sandwiched between Africa, Europe and the remaining Asia in the case of KSA.

Saudi has been good with their finances, for example they have the 3rd largest currency reserves on Earth.

This allows them a much greater degree of spending on their military budget, compared to countries which have not been good with their finances.

High military spending can be excessive in some cases and in some countries, but Saudi's finances are solid and it is not taking away from their development process.

Now and in the upcoming years/decades we will see the rise of a high-qualitiy indigenous military sector. Not only KSA but the GCC and much of the Arab world. Big investments have been made on this field and will continue to be made.

A strong indigenous defense sector is a necessity and I'm sure we could cooperate much in this regard.

I think you will find China is much more open to sharing research and technology than many other countries.

 

[denel]

Saudis will not fight a ground war with Iran since they know they will be defeated. They may only invade Yemen since there is no army but armed militias with small weapons. Saudis had Iraq attack Iran and in the 1980s that killed 2 million people. They are sponsoring Sunni terrorists in many Muslim countries especially in Pakistan. There are thousands of sons, grandsons, great-grandsons of first Saudi rules. These Saudi billionaire princes should go and fight their own war instead of hiring foreigners to fight and die for them.

100% correct. They have cannot fight on the land, they will lose even against the yemenis. Even in 67 or 73 war they stood aside; they use foreigners for the land force.
Just go and see the wretched princes' homes, you will find everything from drugs to liquor - Talal's amazing interview with 60min - openly has liquor in his cabinets with mini skirt secretaries hovering around him.
Just garbage man.... british gave them the titles yet they are nothing than fleas off the camels' back.

 

[Jaanbaz]

Saudia Arabia has to hire skilled foreigners to works for their oil industries. Saudi Arabia does not have the scientific know how or infrastructure to built a nuclear weapon. The only way they would get a nuclear weapon would be through the assistance of other countries.

I doubt they are planning to build one. They would probably want to buy one from Pakistan.

 

[denel]

I have spent more then 10 years there, yes there are problems but u see the direction the country is heading not where it is currently
Ph

Have you been to the universities or not?

Yes, I have been invited to present papers and conduct sessions with some PhD and MSc students. That is when i see the other side when visiting their homes.

 

[ptldM3]

My friend, the hate and insults you put out against everyone and anyone .... like a child you cry now ....

The moderators need to throw you out first.

He has been calling people very nasty names the entire thread and now cries to the moderators because he does not agree with other members.

 

[Gufi]

Yes, I have been invited to present papers and conduct sessions with some PhD and MSc students. That is when i see the other side when visiting their homes.

There are issues but you judge a lot of people based on a few. The people you saw at home may have been reserved with you or have treated you like a guest rather then a friend. When I was studying abroad I learnt there are many stereotypes that one needs to break free from, the media shows your country to be unsafe and with a history of extreme racism. But things are changing for the better and will improve. Most people
You need to visit KAUST to see the real Saudi Arabia. Yes there are cases of racism and problems with foreigners but that is a small percentage compared to the millions of foreigners happy in Saudi and with its system. The Saudi youth strives to improve, has started taking interest in the country and has been moving forward in the fields of education and the current Saudization drive has seen many organisations manned by Saudi men and to some extent women, and the next generation will only get better.