Saudi Arabia has underscored the critical need for enhanced international collaboration to curb the misuse of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies by terrorist organizations. During a session at the United Nations General Assembly focused on strategic capacity building, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, highlighted the importance of countries uniting to share knowledge, bolster national capabilities, and invest in sustainable capacity-building initiatives to counter evolving security challenges.
Alwasil expressed concern over how rapid technological advancements have opened new avenues for extremist groups to recruit, disseminate propaganda, secure funding, and orchestrate attacks. He pointed out the situation in Yemen as particularly pressing, noting that groups like the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda are leveraging technologies, including drones and other sophisticated systems. He emphasized that governments need to enhance their readiness to match the increasingly complex tactics employed by terrorist factions.
The Saudi envoy argued that successful counterterrorism strategies extend beyond mere military and security measures. He advocated for the establishment of robust institutions, modern legal structures, global partnerships, and ongoing investments in both human and technical resources as vital components in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. He also stressed that capacity-building efforts must be customized to the unique needs and priorities of each nation and should be executed in close collaboration with their respective governments to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
Highlighting the Kingdom’s active role in global counterterrorism efforts, Alwasil noted Saudi Arabia’s instrumental part in founding the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, along with its substantial financial contributions totaling $110 million to aid member states in enacting the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Saudi Arabia continues to engage in efforts through platforms like the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. Additionally, the Kingdom has established the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, Etidal, which harnesses advanced technology to track extremist content, counter online propaganda, and raise public awareness.
Furthermore, Alwasil highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Kingdom has been working to bolster the country’s security institutions in coordination with local authorities. These activities, he claimed, have enhanced the capacity to identify and disrupt the financial and logistical networks that support terrorist factions, while also preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. According to Alwasil, these initiatives have played a significant role in enhancing security and stability by limiting the opportunities available for terrorist groups to exploit the region’s instability and expand their influence.