POLICYMAKERS in the Gulf consider industrialising the defence sector as a viable option to diversify the economy, according to a Bahraini expert.
Rather than limiting the sector’s focus to security, the countries are also using defence industrialisation to mobilise local jobs, noted Bahrain Centre for Strategic and Energy Studies (Derasat) executive director Katadah Hameed Zaman.
He was speaking during a webinar, ‘Middle East Defence and Security: An open dialogue on opportunities and challenges in the region’, organised by Clarion Defence and Security yesterday.
The global platform, moderated by London-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies professional research fellow in defence management Professor Trevor Taylor, was also attended by Sweden’s SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme senior researcher Pieter Wezeman and UAE-based Platforms and Systems cluster, EDGE president Dr Fahad Al Yafei.
“Any military development is strategic as it is related to economic capability and security of the countries,” said Mr Zaman.
“These countries have to develop deterrence against threats faced more by the Arab nations which are small and oil-rich; there is an imbalance in the regional power from the Levant to Iran.
“We need to strengthen (the defence capabilities) especially with the asymmetric warfare and the non-state actors, which are the biggest threats to these countries.
“As per the GCC economic vision, policymakers are looking at military industrialisation as a viable option to diversify economic as well as to enhance local employment.”
Mr Zaman was also ambitious of further development of the GCC military defence capabilities through co-ordinated efforts.
As examples, he cited a number of multilateral collaborations between various GCC countries.
“The Saudi-Emirati strategy of 2016 covering multiple areas including military is one such indicator, while another is the Saudi Arabia-UAE collaborative initiative to set up a factory to produce military equipment in 2019, at a cost of $13.6 million with expected returns of $54.4m.
“The peninsular force of 1982 and the joint Gulf defence agreement of 2000 are all examples of collaboration, showing that the GCC will continue to develop its military defence capabilities and increase joint military strengthening.”
However, Mr Wezeman pointed out that a lack of political convergence could cause such collaboration attempts to fail.
“In Europe, such collaborations have sometimes worked well, but often also not quite well due to the different specific requirement and demands of states,” he said.
“This could lead to projects collapsing or found not sticking to the original plans.
“Strong political convergence is needed and all of Europe is willing to work with no political disagreement which will make military co-operation different.
“This could be difficult in the GCC or the larger Middle East.”
Shedding light on the priority benefits of defence industrialisation, Dr Al Yafei said it all depended on a number of factors.
“With challenges not limited to instability or conflict, we also have overreach and bureaucracy, and the slow rolling out of products.
Catalyst
“The industry is not capable to face all these challenges and there is a need for a catalyst playing the pivotal role, wherein comes in the importance of establishments like the EDGE.
“This also brings out job opportunities for nationals.”
He also explained that the key factors are defence policy alongside the evolving economic, political, industrial and the research and development policy that goes hand in hand.
“There should be a movement to align these towards success; in the UAE we are streamlining these policies as part of the national ecosystem in line with Abu Dhabi 2030 vision.”
On the commercialisation of the defence industry, Mr Al Yasei also cited two common models – one which stems from research and development on military development spilling over into commercial markets and the other being civilian commercial advancements into defence technology.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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