CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia signed a strategic agreement with Turkish defence firm Baykar Tech to localise the manufacturing of drones in the kingdom, state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday. The agreement "will enhance SAMI’s role in supporting the national defence industry and strengthening our local capabilities," SAMI said. In July, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy Turkish drones from Baykar in the biggest defence contract in Turkey's history. Investments and funding from the Gulf have helped relieve pressure on Turkey's economy and its currency reserves since 2021, when Ankara launched a diplomatic effort to repair ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (Reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly and Hatem Maher; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Source: The North Africa Journal August 06, 2023 21:59 UTC