IntelGuards

Saudi Arabia and Iraq have signed a military cooperation agreement in Riyadh, focusing on joint training exercises and medical support for injured Iraqi soldiers. This agreement aligns with Iraq’s goal to enhance regional ties and cooperation. Senior officials from both nations discussed regional security issues, emphasizing efforts to ease tensions.

Saudi Arabia, as part of its Vision 2030 initiative, is modernizing its military and aiming to localize half of its defense spending to strengthen self-reliance. Meanwhile, the Middle East faces rising tensions, with Iraq navigating complex relationships amid threats of increased hostilities involving Iran and Israel. Iraq’s President Rashid recently affirmed that Iraq would not permit its territory to be used for hostile actions against neighboring countries.

The Air Force may enhance its current tankers with self-protection gear instead of pursuing a costly new Next Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS) due to budget constraints. While the NGAS aims to operate in contested regions like the Indo-Pacific amid growing Chinese threats, a new tanker could take years to field. Secretary Frank Kendall suggested that improving connectivity and adding self-protection to existing tankers is a cost-effective, faster solution. The Air Force will complete studies on NGAS and its sixth-generation fighter program by year-end to guide its 2026 budget request, including considerations for emerging technologies like collaborative combat aircraft.