The Middle East, 2023-2024

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October 26, 2024: Saudi buys Russian-made Pantsir-S1M Anti-Air System

Saudi Arabia is continuing its move away from the West and closer to Russia and China after a Government Publication confirmed that they have indeed, already bought the Russian-made Pantsir-S1M Anti-Air System. 

The System was reportedly bought just earlier this Year in February 2024. In Theory this means that the Saudi Arabia should be sanctioned by the United States (US) thru their Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), but when it comes to Saudi Arabia, the US is fearful and hesitant to go up against them in any Way because of their Position as a major Supplier of Oil in the World.

Several Saudi Arabians have reportedly already finished their Course in Terms of operating and maintaining the Pantsir System. The Pantsir-S1M is a Self-Propelled Anti-Air System with its own Radar and two 30 mm caliber Autocannons with a Range of up to 4 km, and several 57E6M Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) with a Range of up to 30 km.

Here is a Link to the Article at the Defense Express Website: https://en.defence-ua.com/news/saudi_arabia_buys_pantsir_air_defense_systems_from_russia_will_riyadh_face_consequences-12316.html 

SOURCE: Saudi Arabia Buys Pantsir Air Defense Systems From russia: Will Riyadh Face Consequences? {Archived Link}

September 18, 2024: Israeli Defense Manufacturer checks out the AMC’s 3D Printing Capability

I just noticed that the Israeli Defense Company, “Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Limited (RADSL)” recently visited the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) to witness its Three Dimensional (3D) Manufacturing Capability. 

Hopefully this will open up more Opportunities for the manufacture of some Parts of RADSL’s Product Line to be manufactured in the Philippines. RADSL manufactures, among other Things, the Spike Extended Range (ER) and Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) Missiles, and the Surface-to-air Python and Derby (SPYDER) Air Defense System that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is currently using. 

Another Israeli Defense Company, “Israel Shipyards Limited” had already agreed to the manufacture of their Shaldag Mark V Vessel here in the Philippines for the Philippine Nav (PN). 

Here is the Link to the Post of the DOST MIRDC Facebook Page containing the original Picture: https://web.facebook.com/dostmirdc/posts/pfbid0M69ySxhcSXgiDqJLvz2YGrLJRYmT6pobwTdQtnNQKKZz94Mfwic3s6ztK95ZuprNl

SOURCE: Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) Facebook Page Post, 09/18/24 – 1306H {Archived Link}

October 27, 2023: Saudi Arabia and Chinese Forces conduct “Blue Sword 2023” Naval Exercise in China

Saudi Arabian Forces went to Guangdong, China to conduct the Joint Naval Exercise “Blue Sword 2023” with Chinese Forces recently, and one of their Activities was a Maritime Assault and Rescue as shown in this Video which clearly shows in great Detail their Naval Equipment and Weapons

Here is the Link to the original Video: http://eng.mod.gov.cn/xb/MilitaryServices/News_213106/16262629.html

SOURCE: China-Saudi Arabia "Blue Sword-2023" Naval Special Operations Joint Training concluded {Archived Link}

August 23, 2023: Saudi Arabia to start teaching Mandarin twice a Week on all High Schools 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recently directed all Public and Private Schools to start teaching the Mandarin Language at Secondary (High School) Level at a rate of twice per Week. The KSA said that the fourth Period of the Sunday and Monday Classes should be allocated to teaching the Language. 

The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman reached the Decision to teach Mandarin in the KSA during his visit to Beijing, China back in 2019. 

I am actually learning French and Russian on Duolingo, I just thought it would be cool to be able to speak some Foreign Languages. I am still not far off in both Languages though, but I always intended to learn Mandarin later. Makes me wonder though if I should start sooner, but learning three Languages at the same time might be too much already …

SOURCE: Saudi Arabia to include Mandarin Classes in Secondary Schools {Archived Link}

July 31, 2023: UAE continues to move closer to China as it holds its first Military Aerial Drills with the Chinese Military in September 2023

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues on its steady march away from the United States (US) and move closer to China as it holds its very first Aerial Military Drills with the Chinese Armed Forces next Month of September 2023.

The Drills will be called the “Falcon Shield 2023”, and will be held in the Chinese Province of Xinjiang. The UAE is just one of several major Middle Eastern Countries that has decided to move away with the US and the West and establish closer ties with China.

So wake up, Philippines. Enough of this stup1d1ty of continually being subservient to the Americans, many smarter and more progressive Countries are making the CORRECT Decision of siding with CHINA instead

SOURCE: UAE to hold first Aerial Drills with China, ending reliance on US {Archived Link}

June 12, 2023: Saudi Arabia and China recently signed Usd 10 billion worth of Investment Agreements

Saudi Arabia’s Relations with China continue to grow after the two Countries recently signed Investment Agreements worth a total of Usd 10 billion in a wide range of Fields ranging from Technology, Renewables, Agriculture, Real Estate, Minerals, Supply Chains, Tourism and Healthcare during the 10th Arab-China Business Conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

One of the biggest of these Agreements was for the Manufacture of Chinese Luxury Electric Vehicles (EV) worth Usd 5.6 billion. Trade between Saudi Arabia and China reached Usd 106 billion in 2022, a 30% increase compared to 2021 

SOURCE: Saudi Arabia, China ink $10bn worth of Investments, including EV deal {Archived Link}

June 6, 2023: The Title speaks for itself: “The Middle East: Goodbye America, hello China?”

Just a great Article on how the United States (US) is losing, or maybe already lost the Middle East (ME) to China, MUST-READ for everyone. Just let me share here some of the Highlights of the Article for me: 

- “Between 2000 and 2021, Trade between the Middle East and China has grown from Usd 15.2 billion to Usd 284.3 billion; In the same Period, Trade with the US has increased only modestly from Usd 63.4 billion to Usd 98.4 billion”

- “No wonder that in a 2022 poll conducted by the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in 14 Arab Countries, 78 percent of Respondents believed that the biggest source of threat and instability in the Region was the US. By contrast, only 57 percent thought of Iran and Russia in these Terms ...”

SOURCE: The Middle East: Goodbye America, hello China? {Archived Link}

June 2, 2023: After leaving US-led Naval Coalition, UAE reportedly set to join one that is coordinated by China

Just Days after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it has left the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Naval Partnership that was led by the United States (US), reports are coming out that they will instead join another Naval Coalition that is being coordinated by CHINA. Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia are said to be the other Countries that will be part of the new Coalition 

SOURCE: Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman to form a Joint Navy {Archived Link}

May 31, 2023: UAE withdraws from the US-led Maritime Coalition in the Middle East

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently announced that it has withdrawn from the American-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a Naval Partnership whose main Task is to secure various Areas of Operations including that of in the Middle East (ME). 

The UAE did not explicitly say their Reason for their withdrawal, but Observers say that it probably had to do with the US’ inability to help them during Iran’s seizure of Oil Tankers in their Waters. The US also failed to come to UAE’s aid when Yemen’s Missiles and Drones were attacking their Country

SOURCE: UAE reveals it withdrew from US-led Maritime Coalition ‘Months ago’ {Archived Link}

May 27, 2023: After Egypt, Saudi Arabia now reportedly next in line to buy China’s J-10 Fighter Aircraft, may also replace their F-15s with FC-31 Stealth Aircraft

After Egypt, it seems that Saudi Arabia is now also interested in acquiring China’s J-10 Menglong (Vigorous Dragon) Fighter Aircraft which will reportedly replace their Tornado Fighter Bomber Aircraft. Saudi Arabia has 80 of the Tornado Aircraft, so they could buy as many as that of the J-10. 

Saudi Arabia also is reportedly interested in replacing their American-made F-15 Eagle Aircraft with China’s FC-31 Guying (Gyrfalcon) Stealth Fighter Aircraft, talks for this is also said to be now ongoing. 

So while Weak Junior Eyebags is going “Full Amboy”, many Countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia are now smartly and correctly aligning themselves with China who is looking to uplift everybody Economically unlike the Americans who are only interested in “Wars, Wars, Wars!!!”

SOURCE: Royal Saudi AF may replace the Tornado Fighter with Chengdu J-10 {Archived Link}

May 24, 2023: Saudi Arabia and Egypt now negotiating to buy Weapons from China, and they will be using the Yuan to do it

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are reportedly now negotiating with China to buy a wide range Weapons, and they won’t be using the United States (US) Dollar if it pushes thru but the instead the China’s Currency, the Yuan. 

Saudi Arabia is said to be interested Drones and Air Defense Systems, specifically the the Sky Saker FX80 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the CR500 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV, the Cruise Dragon 5 and 10 Loitering Munitions and the HQ-17AE Short-Range Air Defence (SHORAD) System. 

Egypt on the other hand is reportedly interested in buying around a dozen of the J-10C Menglong (Vigorous Dragon) Fighter Aircraft. The Deals are expected to be completed by next Year of 2024 at the latest

SOURCE: China said to be negotiating Arms Deals with Saudi Arabia and Egypt {Archived Link}

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