Saudi Arabia and Turkey's Baykar Tech join forces to localize drone production

Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with Turkish defense firm Baykar to localize the manufacturing of its popular drones in the kingdom, in line with the Vision 2030 initiative. The deal aims to support Saudi Arabia's defenses and enhance its military manufacturing capabilities. Baykar drones are known for their affordability, tech support, and offensive capabilities, and have been deployed in conflicts worldwide. This agreement is seen as a strategic move for both countries, providing Turkey with hard currency and geopolitical ties, while offering Saudi Arabia a hedge against Western arms sales fluctuations and better drones than Iran can deploy. The deal comes as part of recent efforts to repair diplomatic ties between Ankara and Riyadh.