Saudi Arabia's European allies are facing a shortage of air defense systems requested by the kingdom to repel attacks by Yemeni Houthi forces. According to The National, cited by GD&TĐ, the UK and France effectively lack the reserves to transfer such systems without compromising their own defense commitments in other regions.
Depleted Arsenals
Military analysts quoted by The National report that Saudi Arabia is pushing for a larger supply of weaponry to counter missile and drone strikes by the Ansar Allah movement. However, defense sources indicate that London and Paris are unable to provide these systems without weakening their own defenses in the Baltic states. The UK, in particular, has already sent significant arms shipments to Ukraine, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles. "We have very little equipment left that we could give them. We truly have nothing to send them," a British defense source stated. The publication assesses that many Western countries have depleted their reserves due to commitments to Eastern European nations and Ukraine.
Strike on Riyadh Airport
The growing vulnerability of Saudi infrastructure was clearly demonstrated by the Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10. According to reports, the attack left 12 people dead and 309 injured. The capital's main airport has reportedly been targeted by the Yemeni movement at least four times.
Diplomatic Consequences
Amid frequent attacks and aviation disruptions, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi announced the postponement of the scheduled summit between the Gulf states and the European Union. Meanwhile, the UK has already deployed an air defense system at King Fahad Air Base, and France has announced its intention to send defensive assets to protect the key Red Sea port of Yanbu in the kingdom's west.
Expert Assessments
Former military intelligence officer Lynette Nusbacher notes that Saudi Arabia urgently needs support primarily due to the country's scale: its territory hosts numerous large facilities easily identifiable on satellite imagery, and the adversary possesses a substantial ballistic missile arsenal. According to her, the kingdom is in dire need of assistance from the UK, France, Italy, and the US.
Context: Seeking New Allies
Riyadh's drive to diversify its defense guarantees is also visible at the diplomatic level: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan previously signed the "Makkah Joint Defense Agreement," under which an attack on any of the three participants is regarded as aggression against all. According to the parties, the document is defensive in nature and aims to strengthen collective security in the region.
