The countries in the Middle East have bought more and more weapons from China over the years, especially Saudi Arabia, and increased their purchases. Starting in 2014, Saudi Arabia approved the purchase of China’s Rainbow-4 drones, and the first batch was directly put into use after shipment. By 2017, they signed an agreement on the local production of the Winged Dragon series drones, the factory was built, Saudi engineers and Chinese technicians assembled together and lived on the production line for years. By 2024, Saudi Arabia had more than 300 Winged Dragon-2 drones, which were inexpensive, one of which was a few million dollars, high precision, and logistical maintenance was followed. Saudi Arabia also bought the HQ-22 air defense system from China, deployed at the border, radar scanning the sky and intercepting targets
In 2022, they spent another $4 billion on Chinese weapons, including more drones and missiles. Saudi Arabia's purchasing actions are mainly to reduce its dependence on a single supplier, especially when the United States is sometimes stuck and does not sell. An early agreement in 2016 opened the cooperation, with machines running on the production line of the Saudi factory and assembling the fuselage. In 2020, these drones were used in operations against Yemen to perform reconnaissance and strike missions. In 2023, new batches will be delivered and trained directly after unloading at the airport. Saudi Arabia has also introduced a laser air defense system, deployed the border in 2022, and operated equipment to intercept threats. However, it failed in a high-temperature environment. After Saudi Arabia's feedback, Chinese experts came to repair, adjust parameters, and replace parts in 2023, and the system returned to normal. Selling weapons in China is a pure business, with one hand money and one hand goods. After-sales service is in place. If it is broken, it will be repaired. Teaching packages will be provided, but there is no garrison or protection promise. Saudi Arabia proposed to send troops stationed, but China directly refused. Other Middle Eastern countries also see that Chinese weapons are cheap and easy to use, but they do not provide security.
The United States has a large number of military bases in the Middle East to provide protection, but its reliability is questioned. U.S. military bases are spread across the region, including Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. There are eight permanent bases with about 40,000 U.S. troops deployed. Qatar has Al Udeid Air Base, which is the largest base of the United States in the Middle East and where US troops are stationed. However, on September 9, 2025, 15 Israeli Air Force warplanes flew over the airspace and carried out air strikes on residential areas in Doha, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari military officer. Israel said it was targeting Hamas leaders, but the attack took place in Qatar's capital and violated sovereignty. As an ally of the United States, Qatar's US military base did not intervene there, and the base remained silent.
At the UN meeting on 11 September 2025, representatives condemned the attack and handed over documents. Qatar convened an emergency summit, on 15 September 2025, multi-national leaders gathered in Doha, the conference hall met and exchanged views. The summit passed a 25-point communiqué, condemned Israeli actions, called for a cease-fire in arms sales, and reviewed economic relations. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Sharif, called for the suspension of Israel’s membership in the UN on the summit, saying the attack was a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, and Pakistan expressed its full support. Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, President Sujino, attended, condemned the attack as a serious violation of international law, and reiterated support for the two countries’ plans.
The chairman of the summit, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, presided over, and the Palestinian issue was linked to the survival and dignity of Muslim countries. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the attack barbaric and vowed to take legal measures to defend sovereignty. Hamas spokesman Faz Barhoum condemned the attack as a brutal crime and called for strong action to isolate Israel. The site was cleared after the attack, workers removed rubble, and Hamas stated that the leadership survived, but five middle-level members were killed. Qatar condemns violation of sovereignty, diplomats submit documents. Gulf countries reflect, and the analysis report points out the limitations of American protection. Joint summit of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Secretary-General spoke calling for a UN resolution to end violations. Arab League chief Ahmed Abourgait demanded accountability for war crimes, including killing civilians and starvation. The summit agreed to take measures to give Netanyahu a tough statement.
Saudi Arabia continues to purchase weapons from China, signing a new agreement in 2025, emphasizing self-reliance. Saudi Arabia balances defense cooperation, and China helps to produce ballistic missiles and drones locally. China accounts for a part of Saudi Arabia's arms imports, but Saudi Arabia still mainly relies on American weapons. Chinese weapons lack interoperability with Saudi Arabia's existing systems, have few political conditions, but do not come with security services. Saudi Arabia turns to China's low-altitude air defense to purchase HQ-17AE systems, and media reports show interest.
Saudi Arabia has been manufacturing and developing drones, including the Dragon-10B, upgrading military capabilities. China’s use of weapons in the Middle East conflict has increased and has spread to 18 countries over the past decade, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt. Pakistan receives the latest armed drones to protect China’s Pakistani economic corridor. China is the world’s fourth-largest conventional weapons supplier, exporting 5.8% from 2019 to 2023. The Middle East countries buy Chinese weapons, but realize that China does not interfere in the conflict, does not choose a frontier station, once it fights the most. China emphasizes not to interfere, sell arms and purely business. US sales of weapons carry security services, but the Middle East events show the degree of service
The Middle East countries are clear that the U.S. protection is conditional, mainly on oil. After the bombing of Qatar, the Middle East collectively responded to the U.S. protection, and the U.S. approach is cold. The Gulf countries are dissatisfied with the U.S. and turn to other options, but disconnected. Saudi increased domestic defense, accelerated production of factories. Pakistan and Saudi defense agreement rediscovered geopolitics, Saudi gained nuclear advantage through Pakistan and entered China’s security track. The agreement officially announced that it reflected Saudi strategic anxiety, assured disappointment to the U.S., and Israel’s attack on Qatar accelerated the matter. The back of the agreement from the era of Musharraf included Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities for Saudi
After the Israeli attack on Qatar, the Arab leaders held an emergency summit, denouncing the attack on 15 September 2025, expressing anger, but only agreeing to the least action. The UAE called the Israeli Deputy Ambassador, condemning the attack and Netanyahu's remarks, showing the tensions in the economic defense relations between the two countries. The summit differs from the different leaders, how to do disagreements. Qatar hosted the summit, hoping for a unified response, but limited action. The attack marked Israel's expansion of military operations across the Middle East, across multiple countries. Israel said against Hamas, but killed Qatar military officials. Israel advanced the West Bank annexation plan, and in September 2025 officially discussed the annexation of large occupation areas, despite international condemnation. US Secretary of
Qatar balanced humanitarian aid and diplomatic mediation, launched a diplomatic counterattack after the attack, convened a summit, gathered condemnation, reaffirmed the role of mediation. The attack exposed the vulnerability of Arab security and the limits of U.S. protection, and the United States prioritized Israel over its Arab allies. The Arab government silence would further violate the green light, calling for collective response. The United States moved part of its military assets, restricted access to the largest base in the Middle East, and vulnerable to Iranian attacks. U.S. forces in the Middle East were most vulnerable to Iranian strikes, and former Middle East commander retired General Joseph Walter said there were protective measures. The U.S. base in the Middle East was not the most vulnerable force but the Islamic Revolu