Defence & Security

Bahrain signs security deal with NATO

Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, signed a security agreement with NATO at a conference on cooperation between the Western alliance and Gulf Arab states. The accord provides for the exchange of security information, senior Bahraini foreign ministry official Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak al-Khalifa stated.

News Analysis: Saudi defence spending to remain 'buoyant'

Saudi Arabia's budget for defence and security this year is estimated to be worth between US$30 billion and US$37 billion, representing 27% to 34% of the country's total budget.

Defence spending data is not published, but is estimated to consistently account for around one-third of annual government expenditures, thereby constituting the largest component of Saudi state budgets. In 2008, defence and security will claim 7.4% to 8.4% of a forecast gross domestic product of some US$408 billion.

News Analysis: Saudi defence tendering enters era of greater openness

Saudi Arabia has sent a clear signal to the international defence and security industry that business will not continue "as usual". Instead of the customarily low-key, bilateral negotiations between senior Saudi government officials on the one hand, and foreign governments and major national defence industry companies on the other, the policy is now moving towards one of open tender. More specifically, the message is that a level playing field and greater transparency will be the new order of the day.

Iraq to buy more than US$590m in arms, material

Iraq is expected to buy more than US$590m in military equipment, including weapons and ammunition, in 2008, the American military said.

The interior ministry is already in various stages of negotiations on nine deals through the US-run Foreign Military Sales programme to purchase the equipment, a statement said. In 2007, the ministry purchased equipment worth US$181m through the programme.

Iraq sees progress in regional efforts on security

Regional efforts to stabilise Iraq are starting to bear fruit but neighbouring countries need to do more to stop fighters and weapons from entering, Iraqi officials told a security conference.

The arrival of additional U.S. troops in mid-2007 has contributed to a significant decline in violence in Iraq, but clashes between Shi'ite militia and security forces over the past month have shown these gains are fragile.