It was a privilege for the Gulf Defence Industry Initiative (GDII) to convene senior business leaders and defence and security officials in Riyadh ahead of the World Defense Show.
Held at the The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, our closed-door discussion focused on:
“Defence Sovereignty in a Fragmented World: Choosing Defence Technology Partners for Long-Term Autonomy.”
At a time when the security environment across the GCC is becoming more complex and alliances are under strain, the themes of the discussion feel even more topical. Regional uncertainty, shifting geopolitical alignments, and intensifying technological competition are forcing governments and industry alike to think carefully about resilience, supply chains, interoperability, and long-term strategic autonomy.
The conversation was expertly hosted by Sam Kiley of The Independent, who guided a candid and forward-looking exchange on how defence partnerships must evolve in an increasingly fragmented world.
We were also honoured to hear insights from:
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Dr Linus Terhost of Royal United Services Institute, who explored the strategic implications of defence-industrial alignment and sovereign capability development.
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Dr Hannah Shelast, who shared frontline lessons on resilience, adaptation, and the realities of modern conflict.
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Mars Cheng, who highlighted the growing centrality of cyber security and digital sovereignty in national defence planning.
Across the discussion, one message was clear: defence sovereignty is no longer a theoretical concept — it is a practical necessity. The choice of technology partners today will shape national autonomy, operational readiness, and strategic flexibility for decades to come.
We thank all participants for contributing to a thoughtful and timely debate and look forward to continuing this critical conversation as the regional and global security landscape evolves.
#GulfDII #DefenceSovereignty #WorldDefenseShow #GCC #DefenceIndustry #StrategicAutonomy
