In a surprising move, Saudi Arabia has rejected China's offer of its most advanced warships, choosing instead to sign a deal with Spain for significantly less powerful vessels. This decision has left China in a state of shock, as it had confidently expected to secure the multi-billion dollar deal.
Saudi Arabia has been increasing its defense expenditure for a considerable period of time, with a focus on modernizing its navy. The country had been in discussions with China, which offered its most advanced warships as part of the deal. However, in a significant snub, Saudi Arabia has rejected China's offer and instead signed a deal with Spain, a NATO country.
The background to this decision can be traced back to the 1960s, when Saudi Arabia purchased Dong Feng (DF) three missiles from China. These missiles had a range of up to 3000 kilometers and were acquired by Saudi Arabia as a potential deterrent against Iran. China's confidence in securing the recent deal was based on these historical ties and the fact that it was offering its most advanced warships.
The warships offered by China were the 052D, also known as the Luyang-class destroyers. These are multi-role warships with a displacement of around 7700 tons, making them large and powerful vessels. They are equipped with vertical launch systems for missiles, electronic scanning array radars, landing pads and hangars for helicopters, and a range of other advanced features. Many experts believe that these Chinese warships could have been a match for the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in the region, giving China a significant presence in the Middle East.
However, China's confidence was misplaced. In a surprising move, Saudi Arabia rejected China's offer and instead signed a deal with Spain for five Avante 2200 corvettes. These are significantly less powerful vessels, with a displacement of just 2200 tons. They are classified as frigates, which are generally considered to be less capable than destroyers. In fact, it is estimated that it would take two or three frigates to match the capabilities of a single destroyer.
The decision to reject China's offer in favor of Spain's has been widely reported in both English and Hindi language media. The Indian newspaper Navbharat Times described it as a "slap in the face" for China, while the English language website Bing referred to it as a "shock by Saudi dis to [China's] 052D warship under US pressure".
It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest defense spenders, with the majority of its equipment traditionally sourced from US companies. China may have believed that by securing this deal, it could begin to replace the US in the Middle East and improve its relations in the region. However, the Saudi decision to reject China's offer and instead opt for less powerful Spanish vessels suggests that this will not be an easy task.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia's decision to reject China's offer of advanced warships in favor of less powerful vessels from Spain has come as a shock to China. This move highlights the complexities of international politics and the challenges that China faces as it seeks to expand its influence in the Middle East and beyond.
.png)
Posts
0 Comments