Saudi Arabia has urged the international community to enhance cooperation in preventing terrorist organizations from leveraging artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies for malicious purposes. During a United Nations General Assembly session focused on strategic capacity building, Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed the importance of countries collaborating by sharing knowledge, bolstering national capabilities, and investing in long-term initiatives to address the evolving landscape of security threats.
Alwasil pointed out that rapid technological advancements are offering extremist groups new avenues to recruit followers, disseminate propaganda, fund their activities, and orchestrate attacks. He singled out Yemen as an area in critical need of attention, noting that terrorist groups such as the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda are attempting to exploit technologies like drones and other sophisticated systems. According to Alwasil, governments must enhance their preparedness to keep up with the increasingly advanced methods employed by these networks.
The Saudi envoy emphasized that effective counterterrorism efforts must go beyond military and security measures. He argued that robust institutions, modern legal frameworks, international partnerships, and ongoing investment in human and technical expertise are vital to combating terrorism and violent extremism. Additionally, Alwasil highlighted the need for capacity-building initiatives to be tailored to the specific needs and priorities of individual countries, ensuring they are implemented in close collaboration with local governments to achieve sustainable outcomes.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role in global counterterrorism efforts, Alwasil noted the Kingdom’s significant contribution to establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011, along with a total of $110 million in support for member states implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Saudi Arabia is also actively involved in initiatives like the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. The Kingdom’s Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, employs advanced technology to monitor extremist content, counter online propaganda, and enhance public awareness.
Alwasil further mentioned Saudi Arabia’s continued support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, emphasizing efforts to strengthen the country’s security institutions in coordination with local authorities. These initiatives, he explained, have improved the capacity to identify and dismantle financial and logistical networks that support terrorist groups while preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists. According to Alwasil, such efforts have contributed to increased security and stability by reducing the opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations.
