Military of Saudi Arabia
From Worldatplay
The Saudi Ministry of Defence and Aviation is responsible for the direction of the military of Saudi Arabia. The Ministry also has responsibility for the construction of civilian airports as well as military bases, and for Meteorology departments.
The commander in chief of the Saudi Armed Forces is King Abdulaziz bin Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and the Minister of Defence, and Chief of the Saudi Defence Staff is Field Marshal Muhammad Abdul Qadir. Field Marshal Qadir is also the Prime Minister.
Before the 2006 Abortive Coup, the Saudi Armed Forces were heavily influenced by the Royal family, but with the coup, the Armed Forces has increasingly been in the hands of military professionals.
Saudi Arabia spends over $40 billion dollars annually on defence.
Since the 2006 Abortive Coup, the Saudi Armed Forces has been the main political institution of Saudi Arabia. Saudi military officers are now emplaced throughout the government of Saudi Arabia.
[edit] Military services of the Saudi Ministry of Defence and Aviation
[edit] Independent Military Branches
- Saudi Arabian National Guard
- Saudi Royal Guard Battalion
- General Intelligence Directorate (Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah (Arabic: المخابرات العامة)
- Military Police Force
- Lightning Force (Qowwat Al-Sa'eqah - Commandos)
