Saudi-Spanish corvette deal on the cards
Saudi Arabia's crown prince meets the Spanish king in Madrid on 5 April as he continues his global diplomatic charm offensive in a bid to project a new liberal image of his conservative kingdom.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman's trip to Spain comes hot on the heels of a two-day official visit to France and after a tour lasting several weeks of the United States, Britain and Egypt, where the self-styled moderniser signed multimillion-dollar deals.
According to Spain's El Pais daily, he is due to sign a contract to buy five warships from Spain for €2 billion ($2.4 billion), as well as other bilateral agreements.
Rights groups have denounced the planned sale - which has been under negotiation for two years - saying the corvettes could be used in Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen.
The Royal Saudi Navy operates a range of capable naval platforms, including three 4,700t Al Riyadh-class frigates (pictured).
Spain and Saudi Arabia's royal families retain close ties due to King Felipe VI's father Juan Carlos, who was a close friend of the kingdom's late King Fahd, who reigned from 1982 to 2005, and is close to his brother King Salman.
Juan Carlos was credited with playing a decisive role in 2011 in helping a Spanish consortium win a contract worth €6.7 billion ($8.2 billion) to build a high-speed railway linking the cities of Mecca and Medina.
Spain is currently the seventh largest arms exporter in the world.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet]()
South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet
South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.
-
![How the US Government plans to put the US Navy’s shipbuilding programmes back on track]()
How the US Government plans to put the US Navy’s shipbuilding programmes back on track
In an attempt to reduce delays in shipbuilding efforts, the US government, lawmakers and the Navy are betting big on further investments in the national defence industry and public shipyards. Reviewing and reformulating ongoing initiatives and business practices will also be form part of the effort.
-
![Canadian Coast Guard OOSV Naalak Nappaaluk enters sea testing phase]()
Canadian Coast Guard OOSV Naalak Nappaaluk enters sea testing phase
Trials in North Vancouver with the Coast Guard’s largest science-dedicated vessel will involve full-scale exercises to evaluate systems’ integrations and performance.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy advances with the construction of its first River-Class destroyer]()
Royal Canadian Navy advances with the construction of its first River-Class destroyer
Scheduled for delivery by 2033, HMCS Fraser will be a major surface component of the Canadian maritime combat power.
-
![Ireland orders Thales towed array sonar]()
Ireland orders Thales towed array sonar
Ireland has a large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which extends 370km (200nm) offshore and contains 75% of the transatlantic subsea cables which carry $10 trillion in financial transactions daily. The country is investing to increase protection and surveillance of these waters.
-
![South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs]()
South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs
HHI and Hanwha Ocean outline highly autonomous and unmanned-enabled designs as the ROKN explores force structure for the 2030s and beyond.
