Saudi Arabia has recently allowed women to apply for military service. The decision has been made primarily for domestic political reasons, but it is also an important signal in the context of foreign policy.
Saudi Arabia has set some important conditions for women seeking military service. In other words, only Saudi women who meet certain other criteria can be eligible to join the army. The first condition is that their height should not be less than one meter 55 cm. The second condition is that they have never held any government jobs. They must have Saudi citizenship and a high school diploma. Women who meet these conditions can apply to serve in the national army.
In this Arab kingdom, women did not have the right to drive freely until 2018. Now, possibilities are being opened for them in every sector of the country's naval, naval, and air forces. Saudi women will even be able to apply for senior military positions. The decision to allow women to join the army was actually made in October 2019. A message on the Defense Ministry's Twitter account at the time said, "Another step towards women's empowerment." Earlier, the Saudi leadership called on the police and national security department to step down. Other areas were opened to women.
However, the imprisonment of women political activists in Saudi Arabia has tarnished the overall picture of society. However, in recent years, the Arab kingdom has seen a significant increase in women's rights. (ECFR) political analyst Sanzia Bianco believes that one of the main reasons for this is the participation of women in the war 2030'. Thus, the proportion of women in the labor force in Saudi Arabia will be increased from an average of 20 to 40 percent.
Another goal of increasing military participation opportunities for women is to maximize the impact of military service on civilians, a Gulf state political affairs expert told DW. On the one hand, this decision will enhance the emotional bond between the citizens and their country by enlisting in the army, and on the other hand, it will help reduce gender inequality in society, especially among the youth. This is the class in which there is unrest and it is capable of criticizing the government. The inclusion of women in the military will also strengthen the overall relationship between state institutions.
At first glance, the Saudi Arabian army does not seem to have much power. According to the Global Firepower Portal, which measures the military strength of individual countries, the Saudi army has half a million employees. The majority of them, about 480,000, are working directly in the military. In this ranking, Saudi Arabia is ranked 17th out of 139 countries in the world and its army is one of the strongest armies in the Arab world. In addition, Saudi Arabia is one of the largest arms importers.
Saudi Arabia has strong potential for behind-the-scenes objections and criticism of paving the way for women to join the military. Especially from conservative families and circles. The initial reaction to the news on social media was mixed. One female user openly expressed her happiness while another user was seen as a victim of go-go who raised the question of whether women in the army will serve behind the scenes.
In fact, details of women's uniforms in the military have not yet been released. Similarly, no information has been provided about the number of applications and barracks for women to stay, but the royal family has started publicizing this development in the media as a sign of modern reforms in the country. Aber al-Ali, a female journalist with the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan and other state media outlets, is seen as trying to portray the initiative as a shining example of "feminism" in Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, "feminism" means nothing more than strengthening women's rights and improving their quality of life. I think this is tantamount to giving a clear and strong signal.
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