JEDDAH, 21 July 2005 — The Kingdom’s defense minister yesterday emphasized plans to strengthen its armed forces by acquiring modern weaponry but insisted that it was not committed to purchasing its arms requirements from any particular country.
“We will take the latest from every country; we are not restricted to purchasing them from a particular country. We have links of friendship with every country,” said Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
Speaking to reporters after official talks with visiting Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono in Riyadh, Prince Sultan hinted at starting an economic offset program with Spain.
“A delegation will go to Spain to study prospects of strengthening (military) cooperation through an economic offset program,” he said when asked about new developments in military ties between the two countries.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussions between Prince Sultan and Bono focused on strengthening military cooperation as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.
“I hope Bono’s visit will keep up the fruitful cooperation,” said Prince Sultan, describing Arab-Spanish relations as “distinguished.” The meeting was attended by defense and military industry officials from both sides.
Bono, who arrived in Saudi Arabia late Monday, emphasized the strong and long-standing relations between the Kingdom and Spain. “I feel at home in Saudi Arabia,” he stated.
He hoped that a Saudi military delegation would visit Spain soon to strengthen cooperation.
When informed about Al-Qaeda network’s threat to carry out terror attacks inside Europe if European countries failed to withdraw troops from Iraq, Bono said: “Spain has no troops in Iraq.”
