Saudi Arabia diversifies with new China naval drills, but military remains Western-centric
Expanding Saudi-Chinese defense cooperation mirrors the broader deepening of Saudi-Chinese diplomatic and economic relations.
While US President Donald Trump led the signing of Gaza ceasefire agreements on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia and China kicked off Blue Sword 2025, the third iteration of the joint naval exercise, signaling a growing defense partnership in a turbulent region.
The drill began Oct. 13 at the King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail, headquarters of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ Eastern Fleet. The exercise was designed to enhance operational readiness, improve tactical interoperability and facilitate knowledge sharing between the two navies over a three-week period.
While few details have been released about the operational scenarios or the number and types of vessels involved, staging the third iteration of the drill in the kingdom’s territorial waters underscores the exercise’s institutionalization. Since its launch in 2019 — the 2021 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic — Blue Sword has evolved into a biennial platform for tactical exchanges and joint training, alternating between Saudi and Chinese waters.
This development underscores how expanding Saudi-Chinese defense cooperation mirrors the broader deepening of Saudi-Chinese diplomatic and economic relations.
