WASHINGTON: Nearly 16 years after US forces entered Afghanistan, a shadowy figure from the past is making the rounds in Washington with a plan to end America’s longest war.
Erik Prince, founder of the private security company Blackwater, has resurfaced as President Donald Trump mulls over what to do about a conflict that bedeviled his two predecessors in the White House.
Prince’s plan for Afghanistan would start with the naming of an all-powerful American “viceroy” who would report to the president and play a role like that of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in post-World War II Japan.
American troops, aside from a handful of special forces, would be replaced by a private army of around 5,500 contractors who would train Afghan soldiers and join them in the fight against the Taliban. They would be backed by a 90-aircraft private air force. And all at a cost of less than $10 billion a year, as opposed to the $45 billion the US is expected to spend in 2017 on its military presence in Afghanistan.
Prince, a 48-year-old former US Navy SEAL, has kept a low profile since selling Blackwater in 2010 — three years after some of his employees hired to protect US diplomats killed 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad and wounded another 17.
He first outlined his Afghan proposal in an article for The Wall Street Journal in May. Since then, Prince, who currently heads Frontier Services Group, a Hong Kong-based security company, has met with US officials here and made television appearances promoting his plan.
Prince, whose sister Betsy DeVos is Trump’s education secretary, says he has received a sympathetic hearing from the president’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, and some members of the Congress but a chilly reception from the Pentagon.
After taking office in January, Trump ordered a strategic review of the situation in Afghanistan, where some 8,400 US soldiers and 5,000 NATO troops are assisting the Afghan security forces in battling an emboldened Taliban.
Trump said Thursday that he was “very close” to revealing his decision on how to proceed in the war-torn nation, where 2,000 US troops have died since Americans were first deployed there in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
“We’re getting very close. It’s a very big decision for me. I took over a mess, and we’re going to make it a lot less messy,” said Trump, whose frustration with the stalemate in Afghanistan reportedly led him last month to suggest firing the US commander there, Gen. John Nicholson.
Trump has given Defense Secretary Jim Mattis authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan and the retired general is said to be leaning toward boosting US forces there by about 4,000 troops.
Prince, in an interview with CNN, said he has not met with Trump to discuss his plan and acknowledged that National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, like Mattis, a former general, was not keen on the proposal. “I would say Gen. McMaster does not like this idea because he is a three-star conventional army general and he is wedded to the idea that the US Army is going to solve this,” Prince said.
McMaster and Mattis are not the only skeptics when it comes to Prince’s plan. “It’s something that would come from a bad soldier of fortune novel,” Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told The Washington Post. “I trust our generals. I don’t trust contractors to make our national security policy decisions.”
Sean McFate, a former military contractor in Africa and author of a book about the private security industry, “The Modern Mercenary,” said he considers Prince’s proposal to be “supremely dangerous and foolish.”
“There’s been no discussion about oversight, regulation, safety, accountability, control,” McFate told AFP.
He said private contractors in Afghanistan would inevitably be involved in a horrific event like the September 2007 killing of Iraqi civilians by the Blackwater contractors in Baghdad.
“The first time there’s a massacre we’re going to have to go in there with the Marine Corps and rescue them,” he said.
“Ultimately you get what you pay for,” McFate said. “It’s like having cheap contractors fix your house. At the end of the day it takes twice as long and is four times as expensive.”
Stephen Biddle, a political science professor at George Washington University, said he considered Prince’s plan “pretty dreadful” but is not surprised it is getting a hearing in a White House looking for a new approach.
“The president isn’t very happy with the options that he’s got and is predisposed to like things that are new,” Biddle told AFP. “And Republicans in general tend to like privatization.”
“But not all new ideas are good ideas,” Biddle said.
Blackwater boss resurfaces with $10bn business plan for war in Afghanistan
Blackwater boss resurfaces with $10bn business plan for war in Afghanistan
Oil Updates — prices remain near 4-month highs as Russia sanctions weighed
LONDON: Oil prices eased on Tuesday but remained near four-month highs as the impact of fresh US sanctions on Russian oil remained the market’s key focus.
Brent futures slipped 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $80.73 a barrel by 7:00 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 18 cents, or 0.2 percent to $78.64 a barrel.
Prices jumped 2 percent on Monday after the US Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas as well as 183 vessels that trade oil as part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers.
“Headlines surrounding Russia oil sanctions have been the dominant driver for oil prices over the past week, and combined with resilient US economic data, the tighter supply-demand dynamics have been seeing some momentum,” said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong.
“Prices are taking a slight breather today. With prices rising fast and furious by close to 10 percent since the start of the year, it does prompt some profit-taking as event risks around upcoming US inflation data releases loom.”
The US producer price index will be released later in the day, with consumer price index data on Wednesday.
The stakes are high for Wednesday’s figures, where any rise in core inflation greater than the forecast 0.2 percent would threaten to close the door on further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year.
Lower interest rates typically help in stimulating economic growth, which could prop up oil demand.
“The recent rally to a three-month high does signal an improvement in sentiment, but while broad bearish pressures have eased for the time being, a stronger catalyst is still needed to fuel a sustained broader uptrend,” IG’s Yeap added.
While analysts were still expecting a significant price impact on Russian oil supplies from the fresh sanctions, the actual physical impact could be less.
“These sanctions have the potential to take as much as 700k b/d of supply off the market, which would erase the surplus that we are expecting for this year. However, the actual reduction in flows will likely be less, as Russia and buyers find ways around these sanctions – clearly there will be more strain on non-sanctioned vessels within the shadow fleet,” ING analysts said in a note.
Meanwhile, demand uncertainty from major buyer China could blunt the impact of the tighter supply. China’s crude oil imports fell in 2024 for the first time in two decades outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, official data showed on Monday.
“New sanctions on Russian tankers are expected to impact crude supply to China and India, though key players in these countries are still assessing the legal situation and possible workarounds,” said Sparta Commodities’ Philip Jones-Lux.
66% of organizations expect AI to have major cybersecurity impact in 2025: WEF
- Only 37% have processes to determine the security of AI tools before implementation
DUBAI: The cybersecurity ecosystem has grown more complex with implications for both organizations and governments, according to the World Economic Forum’s latest “Global Cybersecurity Outlook” report released on Monday.
Sixty-six percent of organizations expect artificial intelligence to have a major impact on cybersecurity in 2025. But only 37 percent of organizations have processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before deployment, the report found.
Akshay Joshi, head of the WEF’s Centre for Cybersecurity, told Arab News: “Geopolitical uncertainties, advances in emerging technologies and supply chain vulnerabilities are among the key factors contributing to complexity in cyberspace, all of which point to the need for building cyber resilience across organizations and nations.”
The report calls for a shift in perspective from cybersecurity to cyber resilience, which it describes as an organization’s ability to mitigate the impact of significant cyber incidents on its goals and objectives.
Supply-chain challenges are the greatest barrier to achieving cyber resilience due to their increasing complexity, along with lack of visibility and oversight into the security levels of suppliers, according to the report.
Over half (54 percent) of large organizations consider supply-chain challenges as the greatest barrier to achieving cyber resilience.
Another significant factor is geopolitical tensions, which affect the cybersecurity strategy of nearly 60 percent of organizations surveyed in the report.
Geopolitics also affect risk perception with 45 percent of cyber leaders saying they are concerned about disruption of operations and business processes. And approximately 33 percent of CEOs say cyber espionage, loss of sensitive information and intellectual property theft are their top concerns.
There is widespread disparity regionally and economically when it comes to cyber resilience. For example, 35 percent of small organizations believe their cyber resilience is inadequate — a proportion that has increased sevenfold since 2022.
On the other hand, the share of large organizations reporting insufficient cyber resilience has nearly halved since 2022 down from 13 percent to 7 percent.
Regionally, only 15 percent of respondents in Europe and North America lack confidence in their country’s ability to respond to major cyber incidents targeting critical infrastructure. But this number rises to 36 percent in Africa and 42 percent in Latin America.
The Middle East region is more optimistic with respondents saying they are “confident” (36 percent) and “very confident” (36 percent).
“This confidence is a result of the unequivocal focus on cybersecurity in the Kingdom and across the wider region coupled with the importance given to global collaborative efforts,” Joshi explained.
In addition to these insights, the report highlighted the economic implications of cybersecurity and the role of leadership in prioritizing it as a core business enabler.
It also stressed the need for collaborative efforts to secure networks essential to the digital economy and for ways to effectively address the increasing shortage of cybersecurity skills.
Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports Investment partners with Enfield Investment to boost global portfolio
- Surj, established in 2023, is dedicated to fostering growth in the global sports sector and building a robust sporting ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports Investment Co. signed a strategic partnership agreement on Monday with US-based Enfield Investment Partners to expand and enhance investments in the global sports sector.
The partnership follows EIP’s recent launch of a $4 billion global fund aimed at investing in sports assets.
The two companies plan to explore opportunities in key areas, including clubs, leagues, media rights, and sports infrastructure, a statement issued on Monday said.
Surj, established in 2023, is dedicated to fostering growth in the global sports sector and building a robust sporting ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
The company’s strategy focuses on direct investments in sports events and activities to enhance fan engagement and regional sports participation.
“We are delighted to partner with EIP, which has demonstrated a bold vision with the launch of its new sports assets fund,” said Surj CEO Danny Townsend.
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Surj’s journey to expand its presence in the American market and foster transformative investments in the global sports sector,” he added.
Jake Silverstein, co-founder and chairman of EIP, echoed Townsend’s sentiments.
“The launch of our Global Sports Assets Fund marks the beginning of an exciting chapter. Partnering with Surj Sports Investment enables us to align our shared vision for advancing the future of the sports industry,” he said.
As part of the collaboration, EIP plans to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh to complement its Washington base, reflecting the partnership’s commitment to fostering growth in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
“The Kingdom’s extraordinary transformation is reshaping the global sports landscape,” Silverstein added. “Through this partnership, we aim to create meaningful and lasting impact, leveraging the resources and expertise of both parties to drive innovation and growth.”
The agreement highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the global sports arena, which has culminated in the Kingdom’s successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Saudi Aramco secures $9bn in deals on first day of iktva forum
- 145 agreements signed in one day mark a leap toward strengthening local industries
RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has secured 145 agreements and memorandums of understanding worth an estimated $9 billion on the opening day of the In-Kingdom Total Value Add Forum and Exhibition 2025.
These deals are expected to drive the localization of products and services in Saudi Arabia, enhancing local content in the supply chain and fostering collaboration.
The agreements align with the core objectives of iktva, which aim to enhance supply chain efficiency and add value across Saudi Aramco’s operations.
By increasing local content, the program helps develop a more diverse and competitive energy industry in the Kingdom. It also supports the strategic goal of retaining 70 percent of procurement spending within Saudi Arabia, directly benefiting local businesses.
On its first day, the event highlighted 210 localization opportunities across 12 sectors, with a combined annual market value of $28 billion. These opportunities are seen as key to driving long-term industrial growth and reducing reliance on imports.
During the event, Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser reflected on the company’s progress, noting that Aramco achieved a 67 percent local content score for its procurement of goods and services in 2024, up from just 35 percent in 2015.
“Since launching iktva in 2015, we’ve made significant strides. Back then, most of our materials and services were sourced from outside Saudi Arabia,” Nasser said.
Nasser emphasized that the success of iktva depends on its ability to create value for all stakeholders.
“For Aramco, a largely localized supply chain ensures continuity and helps us navigate operational challenges more effectively,” he said. “Since 2015, iktva has contributed over $240 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and led to the creation of 350 local manufacturing facilities with investments totaling more than $9 billion.”
These new facilities cover a range of sectors, including chemicals, non-metallics, information technology, electrical and instrumentation, and drilling. As a result, 47 products are now being manufactured for the first time in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman also addressed the gathering, announcing the Kingdom’s plans to enrich and sell uranium. “We’re committed to monetizing all our mineral resources, including uranium,” the minister said. “By enriching and selling uranium, along with producing yellowcake, we will secure essential raw materials for energy security.”
Prince Abdulaziz discussed the future of the petrochemical sector, emphasizing the importance of producing more advanced chemicals. “The future of petrochemicals is not just about plastics or polymers. We’re aiming for better, more sophisticated chemical products,” he noted.
Looking ahead, the energy minister spoke about potential collaborations with Egypt, indicating that a roadmap for joint ventures would be outlined in February. “We have much to look forward to with Egypt,” he said.
In a separate panel, Prince Abdulaziz highlighted the role of integrated collaboration between sectors in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
He explained that major energy expansion projects are key to supporting industrial development by providing diverse energy sources and offering competitive prices for gas feedstock.
This, he added, would help stimulate the growth of manufacturing and facilitate the transition to cleaner energy.
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih also spoke during the ministerial dialogue session, stressing that standardized incentives for the industrial sector are critical to achieving Vision 2030.
These incentives, he said, will help accelerate the creation of new industrial facilities and strengthen local supply chains at all stages of the value chain, making Saudi industries more competitive.
The first day of the forum also saw the launch of ASMO, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco Development Co. and DHL. The new venture aims to transform the procurement and supply chain landscape across the Middle East and North Africa region.
Additionally, the opening ceremonies for the Novel Non-Metallic Solutions facility at King Salman Energy Park and the NMDC Offshore Fabrication Yard at Ras Al-Khair were held.
Novel, a partnership between Aramco and Baker Hughes, is focused on introducing a range of composite products to the market, while the NMDC fabrication yard will provide maritime engineering services and fabricate equipment and materials.
Running from Jan.13-16 in Dammam, the iktva Forum continues to spotlight critical infrastructure projects and collaborative opportunities aimed at advancing the local supply chain ecosystem and supporting the Kingdom’s long-term industrial goals.
Saudi entertainment authority unveils 29 investment opportunities
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has unveiled 29 investment opportunities targeting six key sectors of the industry.
The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, aims to expand the Kingdom’s entertainment landscape while fostering private sector participation and aligning with Vision 2030 objectives.
The targeted sectors include facilities, destinations, water parks, adventure parks, virtual reality parks, and e-gaming centers.
These opportunities are designed to enhance growth in the entertainment sector, drive economic diversification, and promote sustainable development.
According to the GEA, the initiative also seeks to empower the private sector within Saudi Arabia and internationally, while improving the quality of life for citizens and residents.
By focusing on infrastructure development across these entertainment segments, the initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s strategic commitment to becoming a global entertainment hub. This effort also supports the Quality of Life Program, which is a core pillar of Vision 2030.
These investment initiatives are set to play a significant role in boosting the sector as projections indicate that the sector will generate 450,000 jobs and contribute 4.2 percent to the country’s gross domestic product by 2030.
Vision 2030 aims to transform Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector by increasing household spending on recreation from 2.9 percent to 6 percent by 2030.
It seeks to generate over SR120 billion ($31.9 billion) in investments, create 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, and enhance the sector’s contribution to the economy.
