00:00And doctor, Saudi Arabia is ready to increase its investment in the U.S. economy to $1 trillion.
00:07Now part of that is nearly $140 billion for F-35 fighter jets.
00:15Can investments in defense contribute to regional stability in the Middle East?
00:20I think, in my opinion, one important thing to highlight and emphasize is that for the kingdom, these deals are not simply about buying weapons, which is very important.
00:33But I think it's more than that.
00:36This is part of a broader Saudi effort to build a modern, capable defense structure that can protect the kingdom and also contribute to regional stability.
00:47Additionally, access to advanced systems such as the F-35, I would say, shows a high level of trust with the United States and reinforces our commitment to work closely with a longstanding strategic partner.
01:06So there is this also important symbolic importance.
01:11At the same time, we know that these systems come with a burden.
01:17A very huge burden with responsibilities.
01:20I mean, it comes with required training, maintenance, and also a sustained cooperation with the U.S.
01:29The kingdom views these purchases as an investment in deterrence and stability, not an investment in escalation, which is a qualitative difference.
01:42And if you allow me to add, I would say that also by relying on trusted partners for advanced technology, the U.S. in this case, we in Saudi reduce the need to seek alternatives from other global powers,
01:58which I think helps clarify our strategic alignment and signals that our goals are security and stability rather than anything else.
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