China's naval presence is more to bully SK, Japan, and the Phillipines

And presumably, in long term, the middle east's vulnerable shipping lanes

This is another reason Vietnam won't soon modernize their military; the existential threat from china is one of economic puppetry by foreign investment, not military occupation

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/saudi-arms-used-against-yemeni-rebels-seem-to-match-canadian-lavs/article28846678/

"We'll only use them for peacekeeping" - Saudi's

Saudi Arabia's entire military has been sold to them by NATO

lmao i know right

And they barely have enough military to field their own military assets

Which is good, because it means America gets to control their military action

Then they just invade Yemen and the west is just like, <a:wow:527642350080753734>

We should be using that advantage instead of whining about arms sales

This definitely will not be a full-scale invasion, it's just dickwaving at the Houthis

You think the saudis will listen to the US?

I don't see it.

Saudi does what saudi does.

The saudis will have to have the US train or direct their military

nah, Saudi's plan is buy expensive weapons, put them in the hands of cowards, pay them a bunch and hope they don't run like the massive fuck up they just had over the weekend

Maybe, while they're just dickwaving at the Houthis

But if we're talking about a full-scale invasion of Yemen, it's not logistically possible

Houti's are making a lot of damage with the help of Iran.

Saudi Arabia getting a taste of asymmetrical warfare lol

You're right about that, Saudi's don't have the man power for that.

They probably want a puppet gov.

It seems to have backfired hard and they're playing the victims now.

Houthis launching Iranian scuds into Saudi infrastructure is hurting them bad.

Saudi Arabia wants the US or another superpower to protect their shipping lanes and oil fields

Yea for sure

They're willing to be effectively dependent on foreign military investment to that end, but they see the dream is dying

I'm sure they think if they can push NATO against Iran, they got this.

Now they're trying to diversify but they're gonna hit a wall

Oh for sure

Saudi's want to be a tourist destination. lmao

You live in a fucking desert

They'll be in for a surprise when America leaves NATO
And their tourism push will not sell without heavy criticism for their social policies

Yea for sure

It's going to end violently when they have to choose between losing American military assurance, or pissing off their indigenous extremist groups

Yea, talk about backing yourself into a wall.

Hey, maybe we can see Saudi democracy sooner rather than later.

Saudi Arabia ain't no Dubai either. I don't think no tourists ain't gonna be around the place soon, unless if they tone down their ridiculous laws.

They already have a dual system for citizens and non citizens already.

I imagine they just want to expand on that, but it's hard to have those kinds of double standards with radical islamists so near by.