The story: Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), Riyadh’s largest defense company, has inked a cooperation agreement with the Abu Dhabi-based defense manufacturer NIMR Automotive LLC (NIMR). This is the first joint venture in the defense sector between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The move comes just days after SAMI announced an agreement to set up a partnership with the US firm Lockheed Martin.

The coverage: Outlets in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE described the deal as a landmark agreement. Saudi-funded Al-Arabiya reported on Feb. 22 that the joint venture would...