On Oct. 13, 2024, Saudi naval forces took part in the Medusa 13 joint naval-air exercise on the Greek island of Crete, alongside units from Greece, Egypt, France and Cyprus. This participation highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing ambition to play a more active role in regional maritime security and diversify its military partnerships. It also showcased the kingdom’s expanding naval capabilities and Riyadh’s commitment to enhancing defense ties through collaborative drills.

Saudi naval capabilities: Current status and modernization

Historically, Saudi Arabia’s navy has been overshadowed by its land forces due to a traditionally land-focused military strategy, a low perception of maritime threats and limited technical expertise. However, recent developments — including shifting US defense priorities and growing threats from Iran and its proxies to key waterways like the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb — have prompted Saudi Arabia to invest more heavily in its naval forces.

Under Vision 2030, Riyadh has initiated a long-overdue modernization of its fleet. This includes the acquisition of five Avante corvettes from Spain, which will replace the aging Madinah-class vessels in the Red Sea, and four US-built Multi-Mission Surface Combatants, an advanced variant of the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, to replace the aging Badr-class frigates. This modernization strategy seeks to enhance the fleet's capabilities without relying on overly complex and potentially vulnerable platforms.