Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why billions spent on defense haven’t shielded Saudi Arabia from Houthi
attacks
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia holds the world's second-largest proven
crude oil reserves and is a leading global petroleum exporter. As the Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia holds unique moral
and spiritual authority across the global Muslim world, drawing millions of
pilgrims annually for the Hajj. Under Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom has expanded non-oil sectors such as tourism, logistics, digital infrastructure, and green
energy. Saudi Arabia spends over $80 billion on its defense budget, the world’s
8th-largest spender, owns state-of-the-art aircraft, tanks, and air defense systems,
and has around 250,000 active troops. Yet recently, its key infrastructure,
including refineries, pipelines, and airports, has been attacked by missiles
and drones fired by the Houthis, a Shia Islamist political and paramilitary
organization in northern Yemen. In fact, the vast kingdom, about one-third the
size of the US, has been threatened on three sides: Iran from the east,
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq from the north, and other Iran-supported Houthi
rebels from the south. But why are the Houthis attacking Saudi Arabia now? And
why is the mighty Saudi struggling to defend its key facilities and people?
Read the article and learn what is causing problems in Saudi Arabia’s
defense.
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