Massive Military Exercise in Saudi Arabia {International}

Saudi Arabia is worried so they recently launched the country’s largest war game in their history. Why? It happened on our Valentines Day when Americans express their love for each other, February 14. They dramatically called it “Northern Thunder” that involved troops from 20 countries. Saudi Arabia determines the military exercise as being the largest by judging in terms of the number of participating countries and qualitative military equipment. People from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies claim that the exercise did not even have a specific political objective.

Northern Thunder included participants from Egypt, Pakistan and Oman which have balked at recent military requests in the past. Saudi Arabia is the most powerful of the Arab States. Despite cuts in its Defense Budget, Saudi was the world’s third largest –military spender in 2015 and the world’s largest arms importer in 2014. Threats by Iran are fueling the Saudi need to be a great military presence in the region. An exercise like Northern Thunder sends the message that Saudi Arabia intends to keep up an assertive foreign military policy. The drills took place in King Khalid Military City in northeastern Saudi Arabia. It involved air, land and sea forces.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, other nations participating in the exercise were Jordan, Bahrain, Senegal, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Kuwait, the Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Tunisia, Comoro   Islands,  Djibouti , Malaysia, Egypt, Mauritania and Mauritius. The North Thunder drills sent a clear message to the rest of the world that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their friendly countries listed above stand together in a allegiance to face and military challenge facing them. Although it looked like nothing but being ready for war they called it the challenge to maintain peace and stability in the region. Meanwhile, this announcement comes only two months after Saudi Arabia said it will form a coalition to fight terrorism.

Saudi Arabia is already part of a group striking ISIS militants in Syria but its involvement with the United Stated but its involvement is withering away. The military showcase of power and might feature 2,540 war planes, 20,000 tanks and 460 helicopters from 20 different nations. A tremendous amount of money was poured into this arsenal of metal meanwhile poverty and infrastructure and health issues are paramount in problems in most of these participating countries. The Saudi state news called it “the most important ” military exercise ever staged in the Middle East. Yes, a parade of sorts is better than actually using the metal might for destruction of homes and artifacts and precious children in a war.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif will arrive soon to witness the closing ceremonies of the on- going demonstrations of military wealth and might .This will be the second visit to the oil rich country in less than two months from the Prime Minister and the Army Chief General. The leaders say that the main goal of this show of military might is to show terrorists that they will be found to have a force to fight with if necessary.