Saudi Arabia has urged for enhanced global collaboration to curb the misuse of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies by terrorist organizations. Addressing a United Nations General Assembly session focused on strategic capacity building, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, stressed the importance of international unity in sharing expertise, bolstering national capabilities, and investing in long-term capacity-building to counter evolving security threats. He pointed out the rapid technological advancements that have opened new avenues for extremist groups to recruit, disseminate propaganda, fund their activities, and orchestrate attacks.
Highlighting Yemen as a region of particular concern, Alwasil mentioned that terrorist groups, including the Houthi militia and Al-Qaeda, are attempting to leverage technologies like drones and advanced systems. He emphasized that governments need to enhance their preparedness to keep up with the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by these networks. Alwasil argued that counterterrorism efforts should go beyond military and security measures, advocating for robust institutions, modern legal frameworks, international partnerships, and continuous investment in human and technical expertise to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism.
Alwasil underscored the need for capacity-building efforts to be tailored to the specific needs and priorities of individual countries, conducted in close coordination with their governments to ensure sustainable outcomes. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s significant role in global counterterrorism initiatives, noting the Kingdom’s pivotal role in establishing the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in 2011 and its provision of $110 million to aid member states in enacting the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Saudi Arabia’s active participation in efforts such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition was also noted.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia has founded the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which utilizes advanced technology to monitor extremist content, counter online propaganda, and raise public awareness. Alwasil also emphasized the Kingdom’s continuous support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, outlining efforts to enhance the country’s security institutions in collaboration with local authorities. These initiatives, he noted, have bolstered the ability to identify and dismantle financial and logistical networks aiding terrorist groups while preventing the transfer of advanced technology and military capabilities to extremists.
According to Alwasil, such measures have contributed to increased security and stability by reducing opportunities for terrorist organizations to exploit instability and expand their operations. The Saudi envoy’s statements serve as a call for a unified global approach to countering terrorism amid the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technologies.