Yes. They have wasted a lot of money and have only “now” started their journey. Arabs will do what is in their best interests for better or worse. Buy where appropriate, build where appropriate and collaborate where appropriate.
Again which "Arabs" are we talking about here? There are 20 + Arab countries and 600 million Arabs in 2026.
KSA for instance have not "wasted" money on any US/Western weapons. We have bought and gotten the best weapons that money can buy almost.
It is US weapons (state of the art) such as THAAD, Patriots, F-15SA, soon F-35 and others that have helped keep the skies of KSA safe for 95-98% of all ballistic missile attacks or drone attacks in the past 10 + years. KSA was until this recent conflict in the region the most battle-hardened air defense in the world.
Later for Ukraine to take the mantle due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Most of our leading engineers, key personal who are now transforming our defense sector and who are heading our public and private defense firms were often educated at leading US/Western universities. Later to take their knowledge back home.
KSA is located at the crossroads of the world. Between Africa, Europe and Asia. We have always historically had close civilizational ties with all of those regions. We have learned to take the best of everything from those regions and civilizations. We are not in a position to exclusively attach ourselves to any region. We are not a part of NATO, BRICS or ay such organization.
Our ties with the US are historic and 80 years old. At the same time our ties with China have become strategic since the 1980's and today China is our by far largest trade partner.
Arabs and China have annual trade volume of 400 billion!
Beijing, July 30 (QNA) - Trade volume between China and Arab countries rose by 2.3% year-on-year in 2024, reaching $407.4 billion, reinforcing China’s position as the Arab world’s top trading partner for consecutive years.
qna.org.qa
We try to have good ties with Europe as well, Muslim world, Arab world, Africa, Latin America, South East Asia, Pakistan, South Asia, Central Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia.
Fools are those that do not understand that geopolitics is a chess game and that you need to do what is the best for your country and people and to ensure that they prosper. It is stupid to rely just purely on one or a few allies, in a perfect world, you need to have cordial relations with all relevant powers in the world to ensure some kind of equilibrium.
Arabs can not create an advanced Defense Industry themselves ,
Nobody ( USA-Europe ) will give most critical technologies to Arabs
They haven't started anything either.
Arabs are still spending hundreds of billions of dollars on useless American weapons .... ( in a war American weapons wont work against Israel )
instead of working with Turkiye
Delusions of grandeur and copium. Whatever floats your boat. As of today KSA and other wealthy Arab states are founding some of the most strategic projects in Turkiye. Do not write nonsense.
Also what KSA has achieved just within 10 years time is absolutely amazing and undeniable with this just being the start. In 20-30 years, KSA will become self-sufficient in most fields. KSA for instance is one of the leading investors in AI. We have the money and talent. Let alone rest of the Arab world. All that is needed is stability and clever leadership. Rest will come by itself with hard work.
Arabs were once not that long ago leading the world in science and technology. Less can do in the future.