Saudi Arabia is urging the global community to enhance international collaboration in tackling the misuse of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies by terrorist organizations. At a United Nations General Assembly session focused on strategic capacity building, Saudi Arabia’s UN Permanent Representative, Abdulaziz Alwasil, underscored the importance of nations joining forces to share knowledge, fortify national capabilities, and invest in long-term initiatives to counteract evolving security threats.
Alwasil raised concerns about the rapid technological advances that have opened new avenues for extremist groups to recruit, disseminate propaganda, fund their activities, and orchestrate attacks. He pointed to Yemen as a critical area of concern, highlighting that terrorist factions, including the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda, are trying to leverage technologies like drones and other advanced systems. Alwasil emphasized the necessity for governments to enhance their preparedness to keep up with the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by terrorist networks.
The Saudi diplomat stressed that effective counterterrorism is not solely reliant on military and security measures. He argued for the importance of robust institutions, modern legal frameworks, international partnerships, and ongoing investments in human and technical expertise to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism. Alwasil also noted that capacity-building initiatives should be customized to address the specific needs and priorities of individual countries and should be executed in close coordination with their governments to ensure sustainable outcomes.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s active role in global counterterrorism efforts, Alwasil referenced the Kingdom’s pivotal role in establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011 and its contribution of $110 million to aid member states in applying the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Saudi Arabia is also actively involved in efforts such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. Furthermore, the Kingdom founded the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which employs advanced technology to monitor extremist content, counter online propaganda, and raise public awareness.
Alwasil also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s continuous support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, emphasizing the Kingdom’s work to bolster the country’s security institutions in coordination with local authorities. These efforts have reportedly enhanced the ability to identify and disrupt financial and logistical networks that support terrorist entities, while also preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. According to Alwasil, such initiatives have contributed to increased security and stability by restricting the opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations.