China, Saudi Arabia deepen defence ties by launching yet another joint navy drill in Jubail

Saudi Arabia and China have launched their third joint naval exercise, Blue Sword 2025, in Saudi waters, underscoring the countries’ deepening defence and strategic ties.

The drills commenced on October 13 at the King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail, headquarters of the Royal Saudi Navy’s Eastern Fleet, and are scheduled to run for three weeks, according to the Arab Weekly publication citing the Saudi Ministry of Defence.

Designed to enhance operational readiness, strengthen tactical coordination, and promote knowledge exchange, the exercises aim to bolster cooperation between the two navies. Chinese officials described Blue Sword 2025 as a key platform to advance “friendly relations and practical collaboration” between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy and the Royal Saudi Navy.

This year’s exercise continues the Blue Sword series, which began with Blue Sword 2019 in Jeddah, focused on combating maritime terrorism and piracy. The second round, Blue Sword 2023, was held in Zhanjiang, China, and included special operations such as helicopter fast-roping, underwater reconnaissance, drone deployments, and joint rescue simulations, helping build trust and joint maritime capability.

The article cites analysts who point out that the Blue Sword drills are part of China’s expanding military diplomacy efforts to strengthen maritime interoperability with key regional partners. For Riyadh, the exercise highlights its push to diversify defence cooperation beyond traditional Western allies, reflecting the kingdom’s evolving political, economic, and military relationship with Beijing.

The exercise also coincides with closer economic and industrial engagement between the two nations. In September, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visited China, meeting senior officials in Beijing and top industrial executives in Shanghai to discuss expanding cooperation and investment in Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector—part of the kingdom’s broader strategy to diversify partnerships and position itself as a global industrial hub.

By Nazrin Sadigova