After years of building up its navy, Saudi Arabia is testing its new warships with real-world missions

• Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its navy in recent years, buying a number of new warships.
• Riyadh has also demonstrating more willingness to participate in and even lead maritime task forces.
• The moves are a response to growing threats and reflect a desire to rely less on the US for defense.

Saudi Arabia's naval forces have come a long way in recent years, with Riyadh acquiring more advanced warships and demonstrating increasing willingness to participate in and even lead maritime task forces in the Persian Gulf.

That change reflects Saudi investment in its own military in response to a growing array of threats in the region, as well as Riyadh's desire to reduce its dependence on the US to defend Saudi territory and interests.