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World Defense Show 2024 Saudi Arabia: Azerbaijani Pavilion, Present. Why is Armenia Absent?

Posted on February. 18. 2024

BY APPO K. JABARIAN
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine (English-language print edition)
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly (Armenian-language print edition)
USA Armenian Life E-Newsletter (Electronic Distribution — e-blast)
USA Armenian Life FACEBOOK | www.armenianlife.com
TV Host, USA Armenian Life TV on AMGA

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (Feb. 8) — The second annual edition of the World Defense Show took place from February 4 through 8 in Riyadh, the capital of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The World Defense Show 2024 was presented under the banner “Dedicated to creating the ultimate B2B event for the defense industry, which also supports its relevant ministries and authorities and reinforces the national commitment to the growth and success of the show.” 

Many defense experts firmly believe that this is the largest of its kind military conference and exhibition. It was organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia government through its Ministry of Defense. Founded by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, World Defense Show 2024 showcased the future of defense through technological developments from around the globe. 

Anyone attending this unique event most probably experienced a wealth of world-class show features and dynamic demonstrations. The World Defense Show took place under the esteemed leadership of HRH Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI). 

The event took place at Riyadh Exhibition and Conference Complex which is one of the world’s largest such exhibition and convention centers located in North-Eastern Riyadh. With landmass spanning 800,000sqm, the venue comprises three large exhibition halls, outdoor exhibit spaces, a land demonstration track, a runway and space for static aircraft displays, the complex can be qualified as a mini city. 

U.S. Army Major General (Ret.) Mark MacCarley the main principle of MacCarley & Rosen, an International Defense Consulting Firm kindly invited this author in the latter’s capacity as a Senior Consultant, to attend this most informative, educational and prestigious biennial defense exhibition and conference. 

Among the exhibitors were such world giants as the United States of America, China, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Also participating were host of other emerging military industrial countries such as Turkiye, India, South Africa and South Korea. 

Of course, the main organizer of the WDS — military industrial power Kingdom of Saudi Arabia spearheaded by Saudi Ministry of Defense and a series of Saudi military companies. 

One couldn’t help but notice Turkiye’s major presence with multiple military industrial firms. Also participating were other European Union emerging military industrial countries such as Greece, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Estonia. 

Also noticeable were the medium and small but important states such as the Royal Jordanian Kingdom and Singapore that have secured respectable kiosks. 

From an Armenian perspective though the biggest shock came when we discovered a very impressive pavilion manned by Armenia’s arch enemy Azerbaijan. And even more shocking discovery was that Armenia was not represented at all. There was not even a booth by Armenia’s military industrial sector. Why? 

Mr. MacCarley and this author thought that Armenia can accomplish a lot by remedying this serious shortcoming. One may ask, Does Armenia really have a military industrial sector that is viable and competitive? Has Armenia been able to develop serious military industry during the past years in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 Fall 44-Day anti-Armenian aggression by Azerbaijan-Turkey and ISIS? For that matter, why has Armenia’s military industrial output has been sabotaged during most of the period since 1991? 

Obviously, during the kleptocracy regimes under the first presidents, and especially under Pres. Robert Kocharyan (1998-2008), and Pres. Serzh Sargsyan (2008-2018), Armenia’s industrial capabilities were systematically undermined. In many instances, Diasporan investors were outright robbed and sabotaged. 

But now, Armenia and friends need to move on. Instead of dwelling on the past Armenians should empower Armenia to remedy the situation in an unprecedented race against the clock. 

However, many well-informed Armenians in the Homeland and Diaspora realize that during the post independence era, Armenia’s military readiness and capabilities were constantly sabotaged by supposedly close allies and blocked by the West. Hence, the result was the disastrous outcome of the Fall 2020’s 44-Day Artsakh War. 

The Fall 2020’s 44-Day War in Artsakh brought to surface the hidden fact that Russia all along suppressed Armenia’s ability to become militarily strong in terms of weaponry even though Armenians are known for being blessed for having innovative mind, diligence and the will to create advanced military weaponry. 

The good news is that, in the present political post-kleptocracy period (-2020), Armenia and the Armenian nation (Homeland + Diaspora) seem to be determined exponentially augment Armenia’s 1) Military Readiness; 2) Industrial diversification; 3) Acceleration of loyal domestic and foreign investments in strategic area of the Armenian economy; 4) Revitalization of the national demography; 5) The Rule of Law through a) Enhanced law enforcement; b) Consolidation of Judicial Independence; c) Legislation of new laws contributing to elimination of factors that can potentially become major national security threat(s).