Saudi Arabia is urging the global community to bolster international collaboration to prevent terrorist groups from leveraging artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies for malicious purposes. Speaking at a United Nations General Assembly session on strategic capacity building, Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, highlighted the urgency of countries uniting to share expertise, enhance national capabilities, and invest in sustainable capacity-building to combat evolving security challenges.
Alwasil expressed concern over how technological advancements are providing extremist groups with new avenues to recruit followers, disseminate propaganda, secure financing, and orchestrate attacks. He specifically mentioned Yemen as a region in need of focused attention, noting that terrorist organizations, including the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda, are attempting to exploit technologies like drones and other advanced systems. He emphasized that governments must enhance their readiness to counteract the sophisticated tactics employed by these networks.
Emphasizing that effective counterterrorism strategies require more than just military and security operations, the Saudi envoy advocated for strong institutions, modern legal frameworks, and robust international partnerships. He underscored the importance of ongoing investments in human and technical expertise to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism. Alwasil also highlighted that capacity-building initiatives should be tailored to the unique needs of individual countries, executed in close collaboration with their governments to ensure sustainable outcomes.
Alwasil noted Saudi Arabia’s significant contributions to global counterterrorism efforts, mentioning the Kingdom’s pivotal role in the establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011 and its provision of $110 million to support member states in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Additionally, Saudi Arabia actively participates in initiatives like the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. The Kingdom also created the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which uses advanced technology to monitor extremist content and counter online propaganda.
Alwasil also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s sustained support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, indicating the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen the country’s security institutions in collaboration with local authorities. These initiatives, he stated, have enhanced the ability to identify and disrupt financial and logistical networks that aid terrorist groups while preventing extremists from acquiring advanced technology and military capabilities. According to Alwasil, these efforts have fostered increased security and stability by curtailing opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations.
