Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the fatal bombing in Bahrain that killed three policemen, including an Emirati police officer, branding it a “terrorist act.”
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal denounced the attack Thursday and called for punishing the perpetrators of the explosion that was primarily aimed at sparking violence in Bahrain and destabilizing the peace and security of the neighboring Gulf states. “The incidents in Bahrain are utterly criminal,” said Prince Saud in a statement published in the local media.
He said the Kingdom considers these incidents “terrorist acts” and that “such criminal actions are not unacceptable to any nation or person who has faith in Islamic and Arab solidarity.”
The GCC and Bahrain have asked Iran to refrain from fomenting violence in Bahrain and the region at large.
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, rebuked Iran on Thursday at the UN Human Rights Council forum in Geneva. “This is terrorism…premeditated,” said Al-Khalifa in a statement released on Thursday.
He further said “the Iranian meddling in the affairs of Bahrain has become evident from the increase in the terrorist activities” in his country. He told a local daily that his country “is now suffering from an increase in terrorist activities because of the hostile role of certain countries in the region.”
“We have issued a statement listing three organizations on the terror list and will be in contact with the world about this matter,” he said.
“Terrorism is one thing and political actions are something else,” the Bahraini minister said in response to a question about the opposition’s aim to undermine the security of Bahrain in particular and the Gulf region in general.
“The menace of terrorism is posing a growing threat to the peace and security of the Gulf region. The Gulf countries are concerned over the situation.” He added: “The UAE has also taken a firm stance against terrorism and voiced its support for Bahrain. The GCC countries as a bloc are exerting efforts to ensure peace and security in the Gulf and in the extended region.”
GCC foreign ministers also condemned Tuesday night the bomb explosion.
Bahrain blacklisted three anti-government groups as terrorist organizations after the explosion.
These groups are Saraya Al-Ashtar (Ashtar Brigade), Saraya Al-Muqawama (Resistance Brigade) and others associated or allied to them. The decision effectively outlaws these groups and makes their members subject to imprisonment. Bahrain listed Lebanon’s Hezbollah as a terrorist organization last year.
Terror in Bahrain ‘unacceptable’
Terror in Bahrain ‘unacceptable’
Saudi Arabia, Estonia strengthen cyber defense cooperation
- Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms
RIYADH: Estonia aims to deepen defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence cooperation with Saudi Arabia as both nations look to advance technology‑driven defense and cybersecurity capabilities.
Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s minister of defense, told Arab News at the World Defense Show in Riyadh on Monday that Estonia’s defense industry is eager to contribute to the Kingdom’s fast‑growing defense ecosystem.
“In the modern world, cooperation built on trust and technology is the best defense,” he said. “It is important for us to be here because we clearly see there is a possibility to increase cooperation, not only bilaterally between Saudi Arabia and Estonia, but across the region.”
At Estonia’s pavilion, a cooperation agreement was signed between an Estonian company and a Saudi firm during the show, he noted.
Pevkur also said Estonia’s defense sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by technological innovation and partnership.
“Our defense industry is growing very rapidly, and we continue to see strong momentum,” he said.
He said Estonia’s strengths lie in digital and smart‑system integration rather than large‑scale weapons production.
“We will not build airplanes or tanks, but what we can do is integrate robotics, automation and drones to make existing systems smarter,” he said.
The minister said effective defense collaboration must link businesses and governments to achieve meaningful results.
“When we want to have real cooperation, we need it on all levels,” he said. “The biggest client for any defense company is the government, so we must treat this as one ecosystem where the public and private sectors work hand in hand.”
Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms.
Pevkur said several Estonian companies, including Nortal, have already assisted Gulf governments in developing open IT and digital‑service systems.
“As the most digitalized nation in the world, almost every service in Estonia can be done online, except getting married,” he said. “But with such digitalization, we also need strong cyberdefense.”
He said data protection and digital resilience are treated as matters of national sovereignty in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
“Data is what we own. When someone steals that data, it becomes a serious threat,” he added. “That is why cyberdefense is not just about technology, it is about trust, sovereignty and protection.”
Pevkur said Saudi Arabia’s advances in AI offer promising opportunities for collaboration.
“I know that Saudi Arabia is doing great work when it comes to AI,” he said. “For us, as a small country with limited human resources, AI is essential not just for defense but for everyday life.”
Pevkur added that Estonia has launched a national AI strategy to promote responsible development and closer coordination between government and industry. One Estonian company, he said, has developed a system that allows a single operator to control hundreds of drones through AI.
“It is quite easy to put a weapon into the hands of a robot, but we also need to define who is accountable for its actions,” he said.
“The big question for the future is whether we can allow a war to be fought entirely by AI, or if humans must always make the final ethical decisions.”
He said in his conclusion that governments must reach a common understanding on how AI will be used and regulated on the battlefield.
