Saudi Aramco announced a deal on Friday with U.S. defense giant Raytheon to form a jointly-owned company to boost cybersecurity in the kingdom.
An official Saudi government news bulletin announced the deal a day after the U.S. Senate voted to block U.S. military cooperation with Saudi Arabia in waging the war in Yemen. The defense deal also comes in the wake of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly at the direction of the crown prince, which has placed increased pressure on President Trump to hit pause on several U.S. arms deals with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Press Agency said that Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world, signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Raytheon’s Saudi-based subsidiary to establish a new company to develop and deliver “the best cybersecurity services” in the kingdom, the broader Middle East, and North Africa.
“The new cybersecurity company is expected to provide marketing and security services for integrated defense cybersecurity products,” the official government news bulletin read. The business will also conduct research and development.
In addition to selling its services, one of the company’s principal tasks will be to protect the giant Saudi oil company from cyberattacks. Saudi Aramco has been the victim of major cases of cyberintrusion and hacking attacks in the past and has sought to shore up its defenses in recent years.
The new company will enhance protections for both Saudi Aramco, its suppliers, customers, and subsidiaries, and help build global cyberprotection capabilities, the Saudi Press Agency said.
