Pro-Business President Trump Set to Unleash MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drone Deal for Gulf Nations

Ad

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – With former U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressively pro-business stance, the tides may be turning for several high-stakes arms deals in the Gulf that were previously stalled under President Joe Biden’s administration.

What was once put on hold could soon be back in motion.

At the heart of this potential resurgence is the blockbuster acquisition of dozens of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones—cutting-edge unmanned systems developed by General Atomics—by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

But that’s just the beginning, as a host of other long-delayed weapons procurements could soon follow, reshaping the regional defense landscape.

Saudi Arabia, a dominant force in the Gulf’s military landscape, is already immersed in high-level negotiations with senior General Atomics officials, setting the stage for what could be a landmark deal for the MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones.

The kingdom’s escalating interest in these advanced unmanned systems hints at a seismic shift in the region’s defense strategy—one that could reshape power dynamics and redefine aerial warfare in the Gulf.

“We are still in the very early stages, but we are pursuing this aggressively because there is significant interest from Saudi Arabia in the MQ-9B,” said Dave Alexander, President of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, in an interview with the international defense news portal Defense News.

“We expect they have substantial requirements for these drones, which could potentially create tens of thousands of jobs in the United States if the deal is finalized,” he added.

For years, Saudi Arabia has looked beyond the West, relying on China and Türkiye as its go-to suppliers for cutting-edge drone technology. But the tide may soon turn.

With Trump at the helm, a major shake-up in U.S. export policy could be imminent. General Atomics President Dave Alexander exudes confidence that a Trump-led White House would break down bureaucratic barriers, accelerate defense deals with Gulf allies, and lift the restrictions that have long stalled key procurements.

One such deal? The long-frozen sale of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to the UAE and possibly Qatar, which Alexander expects to be revived under Trump.

Saudi Arabia’s pivot toward Chinese drones began in 2014, when it acquired CH-4 unmanned combat drones from Beijing, followed by additional orders for the Wing Loong II system—both formidable assets in aerial warfare.

Built by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the CH-4 is a lethal Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), engineered for precision airstrikes, deep reconnaissance, and strategic surveillance.

Often compared to the American-made MQ-9 Reaper, the CH-4 packs a deadly punch, capable of launching air-to-ground missiles and executing long-range operations—reinforcing Beijing’s growing influence over Saudi Arabia’s drone arsenal.

But with a potential policy shift in Washington, the question remains: Will Riyadh continue its reliance on Eastern suppliers, or will Trump’s return open the floodgates to high-tech U.S. drone sales?

After securing its initial fleet of Chinese drones, Saudi Arabia doubled down on its commitment to Eastern technology, expanding its arsenal with the formidable Wing Loong II—a drone built for enhanced military operations and precision strikes.

This bold procurement strategy signals Riyadh’s strategic pivot away from Western suppliers, particularly the United States, as Washington’s tight export restrictions on advanced drone technology continue to frustrate its Gulf allies.

China, however, seized the opportunity, offering Riyadh a compelling alternative—flexible purchasing terms, fewer political hurdles, and highly competitive pricing.

For Saudi Arabia, and much of the Middle East, Beijing’s drone industry has become an increasingly irresistible force.

But Saudi Arabia isn’t stopping there.

The kingdom is aggressively expanding its drone capabilities, forging new defense ties with Türkiye in its relentless pursuit of cutting-edge aerial warfare technology.

In a landmark deal in 2023, Saudi Arabia sealed a high-stakes defense agreement with Turkish defense giant Baykar to procure the Akinci combat drone, a powerful next-generation UAV set to further redefine the kingdom’s military might.

Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar described the $3 billion (RM13.4 billion) agreement as the largest defense contract between the two nations.

The deal, hailed as “the largest defense agreement in Türkiye’s history,” was signed during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, stated in a post on his Twitter account that the acquisition of Turkish-made drones aimed to enhance the readiness of its armed forces and strengthen the country’s domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.

In 2020 and 2021, the United States was reportedly considering the sale of four MQ-9B drones to Qatar and 18 MQ-9B drones to the UAE. However, these deals stalled after President Joe Biden assumed office.

Now, with Trump returning to the presidency, senior officials at General Atomics are optimistic that the long-delayed sale of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones could finally be revived.

“The future looks bright under this new administration because I believe [Trump] will be more pro-business in the region, allowing us to move forward, treat our partners here as equals, and finalize deals without unnecessary conditions that frustrate everyone,” Alexander stated.

He further emphasized that he expects the sale of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to the UAE to resume under a Trump administration.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA