RIYADH – The Saudi Defense Ministry has allowed women to be enlisted in itsarmed forces for the first time in a bid to “empower women” as part ofSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Saudi Vision 2030” developmentplan.
The Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Thursday that themeasure permitted women to serve from soldier ranks to “seniorranks” across its different military branches.
The kingdom first allowed women to join its security forces last year inareas related to “public security”, such as anti-narcotics, criminalinvestigations, customs and the prison system.
Saudi Arabia’s push to allow women to enlist in the military comes despitewomen being banned from drivinglinkandtraveling without male permission in the country up until just a year ago.
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Bin Salman has sought to portray an increasingly liberal image of thecountry as part of the 2030 initiative, pledging to make the kingdom more”open” and eradicate “extremism” since his ascent to power.
