GCC’S PURSUIT OF STRATEGIC AUTONOMY: LOCALIZING DEFENSE INDUSTRIES M .

The defense sector depends on other industries 5 that produce iron, steel, non-ferrous metals, electrical equipment, and transportation.14 However, unlike the US and Europe, the Gulf region did not experience industrialization in the 20th century, which hindered the localization of the defense industry due to the lack of an industrial base. [...] The second related factor is the dearth of human capital in the region, which is crucial for the development of the defense industry. [...] The localization of the defense industry is seen as a way to promote a feeling of self-sufficiency and national pride among citizens and is part of a broader effort to create a more nationalist sentiment in the region.22 Overall, it is clear that all of these factors have contributed to the drive for defense reform and localization in Gulf countries. [...] While there are challenges to be addressed, the early successes of the domestication of defense industries in the UAE and Saudi Arabia show that they are on the right track to becoming security providers in the region. [...] Abandoning the region would not be easy for the US37, and signs of pressure to test the loyalty of Gulf countries are already apparent as the rivalry between the US and China intensifies.38 Therefore, it is possible for the US to reconsider its role in the region, and Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s efforts for strategic autonomy intensifies.