RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the UK are deepening mining ties as the British government seeks to secure critical minerals for industries such as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. 

On Jan. 14, the two nations signed an agreement to collaborate on mineral resource development, emphasizing sustainable practices, technology transfer, and economic growth. 

In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the ongoing Future Minerals Forum, the UK Minister for Industry, Sarah Jones, highlighted the growing collaboration between the two Kingdoms. 

She emphasized the importance of partnerships in the critical minerals sector, which are vital for advancements in AI, green energy transitions, and emerging technologies. 

“The quantity of critical minerals we’re going to need in the future is significantly bigger than we have today, and I think Saudi Arabia has taken quite a leadership role with the Future Minerals Forum, convening so many countries to come together and talk about this,” Jones said. 

The minister outlined the challenges and opportunities as both countries work to address the surging global demand for essential minerals. She expressed confidence in the potential of the UK-Saudi partnership to tackle these challenges effectively. 

The UK’s expertise in mining finance, as well as it universities — renowned for research and technical knowledge — position it as a valuable partner for Saudi Arabia in mining and exploration.

Jones emphasized that Britain’s focus on mining finance, combined with its global academic reputation, strengthens the collaboration. 

“We wanted to have a relationship where we work together on some of these challenges, and I think this is the start of what will be a strengthening relationship going forward,” she said. 

The minister expressed excitement about future collaborations, including sustainable mining practices, innovative financing structures, and technological advancements to meet the growing demand for critical minerals. 

The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is taking a proactive approach to shaping its industrial future, especially in sectors integral to the global green transition and technological progress. 

“We’re looking at things slightly differently,” said Jones. “We’re trying to be more proactive in devising what are the industries of the future that we need in the UK. Where do we get our supply chains from? How do we make sure we’re secure?” 

As part of its new industrial strategy, Britain is prioritizing critical minerals, recognizing their essential role in advanced manufacturing, green energy, and AI. 

Jones highlighted the government’s determination to position the UK as a key player in the global minerals market and equip domestic industries for future demands. 

“We’re setting the directions of all of our companies and our businesses know the sectors that we want to grow and the direction that we want to go in,” she said. 

To support this strategy, the British government has established funding mechanisms like the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance to mitigate risks associated with critical minerals mining, technology development, and sustainable practices. 

In addition to the UK-Saudi partnership, Jones discussed opportunities for joint investment in mining projects in third countries. 

She proposed collaboration on initiatives in Africa, where both nations have significant interests and could combine resources to meet growing mineral demands. 

“Can the UK and Saudi Arabia have a project in an African country? We have several kinds of ideas, thoughts that we could do together,” she said. 

Jones also highlighted the rising interest in mining within the UK, citing developments such as lithium and tin mining in Cornwall, which could support both the UK’s industrial needs and the global green transition. 

The conversation touched on the ethical and environmental challenges associated with mining. Jones acknowledged the industry’s troubled history, including issues of worker mistreatment, environmental damage, and resource mismanagement. 

As demand for minerals grows, she stressed the need for mining practices to evolve, becoming more sustainable and equitable. 

“Historically, mining has been difficult in terms of the way that countries and people have been treated,” Jones said. “We’ve got to make sure where mining is sustainable and helping the countries that are supporting those mines, we have to make sure we’re creating wealth there and these things are hard, and that’s why countries need to work together.” 

She concluded by emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in addressing critical mineral challenges. 

“I think we can talk to each other between Saudi Arabia and ourselves about how some of these funding mechanisms work, how we support each other’s companies, and how we develop and help other countries to, to develop what they need as well. But it’s a huge challenge and that’s why we’re here,” Jones said.

LONDON: Escalating wars, rising disinformation, and intensifying climate challenges rank as the most pressing global threats for 2025, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report, released Wednesday ahead of the Davos annual meeting.

Based on insights from 900 global leaders in business, politics and academia, the report highlights escalating geopolitical tensions, environmental crises and misinformation as critical issues shaping the year ahead.

“Rising geopolitical tensions, a fracturing of global trust and the climate crisis are straining the global system like never before,” said Mirek Dusek, WEF managing director.

“In a world marked by deepening divides and cascading risks, global leaders have a choice: To foster collaboration and resilience, or face compounding instability. The stakes have never been higher.”

State-based armed conflicts are flagged as the most immediate concern for 23 percent of respondents, with wars in the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine driving global instability.

The forum will host a historic gathering of Middle Eastern leaders, including representatives from Iran, Syria, Yemen and Gulf countries, to discuss prospects for peace amid hopes of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after 15 months of devastating war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Donald Trump, set to be sworn in as the 47th US president on Jan. 20, has vowed to end the war in Ukraine. He will deliver a virtual address to the forum on Jan. 23. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also attend and deliver a speech on Jan. 21.

“From conflicts to climate change, we are facing interconnected crises that demand coordinated, collective action,” said Mark Elsner, WEF’s head of the Global Risks Initiative, who urged world leaders to make “renewed efforts to rebuild trust and foster cooperation.” 

While conflicts rank as the most immediate threat, the survey highlights the climate crisis as the dominant risk of the next decade. Environmental risks — including extreme weather, biodiversity loss and critical changes to Earth’s systems — account for three of the top four long-term global concerns.

In 2024, global warming hit a record 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, triggering catastrophic weather events, such as the Los Angeles wildfires, devastating floods in Spain caused by the DANA weather phenomenon and unprecedented rainfall across the Middle East, which triggered floods in the Arabian Peninsula and Sahara Desert for the first time in half a century.

“The climate and nature crisis requires urgent attention and action,” said Gim Huay Neo, the WEF’s managing director for the Center for Nature and Climate.

Two technology-related concerns ranked next on the list of global threats: “Misinformation and disinformation” and the “adverse outcomes of AI technologies.”

The survey, conducted between September and October, noted rising anxieties about misinformation. These concerns have intensified following Donald Trump’s election victory and his alignment with tech leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who are reportedly advocating for deregulation policies expected to benefit the tech industry.

It coincides with Zuckerberg’s recent decision to scale back fact-checking and content moderation across Meta’s platforms, a move widely criticized by experts as an appeasement of Trump, whose return to the White House will overlap with the forum’s opening.

Organizers are expecting 60 heads of state and government to attend, alongside chief executives and campaigners. Several ministers and business leaders from Saudi Arabia are also expected to take part.

The WEF’s report found that 64 percent of experts foresee a fragmented global order dominated by competition among middle and great powers, with multilateralism under significant strain.

Against this backdrop, the forum’s theme, “A Call for Collaboration in the Intelligent Age,” highlights the need for renewed cooperation, even as Trump’s anticipated policy shifts could undermine collective efforts on critical global issues, including the climate crisis.