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How three months of war have reshaped the Gulf How three ... For decades, people in the wealthy Gulf Arab nations watched the wars of the region unfold on their televisions. War happened to their neighbours – in Yemen , in Syria , in the Gaza Strip – but not to them. That illusion was shattered by the US-Israeli war with Iran . It upended these countries’ sense of security, hobbled their energy-rich economies and pushed them to reconsider defence strategies. The US military bases on their soil – rather than shielding them from any harm – had made them the targets for thousands of Iranian missiles and drones. The fighting appears to be over, at least for now, and yet many in the Gulf countries worry that the deal emerging between the United States and Iran will do little to alleviate the threat that Iran poses to them, analysts say. In a tacit acknowledgment of the Gulf’s concerns, US secretary of state Marco Rubio met several of the region’s Arab leaders this week, seeking to reassure them. He told reporters in Kuwait on Wednesday that the United States was “not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies.” READ MORE Welcome to the new Global Briefing newslette…

The Middle East Has a New Saudi-Led Axis - Foreign Policy Analysis The Middle East Has a New Saudi-Led Axis The newfound bloc has emerged as a potential winner from the Iran war. Vohra-Anchal-foreign-policy-columnist18 Anchal Vohra By Anchal Vohra , a columnist at Foreign Policy . Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan fidan, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan pose for a picture ahead of a meeting in Cairo on June 21, 2026. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan fidan, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan pose for a picture ahead of a meeting in Cairo on June 21, 2026. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP Foreign & Public Diplomacy Middle East and North Africa Anchal Vohra July 1, 2026, 4:52 AM Welcome to FP Free Week. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, our entire site is completely unlocked this week only. Enjoy the article. The Iran war inflicted substantial pain on Persian Gulf states, as their exports and sense of safety declined. Yet some have emerged more resolute about cooperating together on regional politics. A new groupin…

Iran condemns US-GCC statement, urges Gulf states to rethink regional ... ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's foreign ministry on Friday condemned a joint statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers, calling it "interventionist, irresponsible, and provocative" and warning against what it described as continued hostile interference in regional affairs. In a statement, the ministry said it "considers the positions contained in the joint statement of the US Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council... to be interventionist, irresponsible, and provocative, and warns against the continuation of hostile and meddlesome behaviors in the region." The statement came after Rubio warned that allowing countries to charge ships for using the Strait of Hormuz would create "total chaos" and said there was "zero support" among Gulf states for imposing transit fees. Oman also announced it opposed tolls on the strategic waterway despite earlier discussions with Iran over possible charges. "International waterways do not belong to any nation state. This is a foundational principle in the world today, without which…

Gulf States in the Crossfire of a War They Tried To Prevent Stay updated and subscribe to our newsletters As Washington and Tehran escalate, GCC unity is holding—but only just, and not on the same terms. When the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February, Tehran responded, in large part, by attacking military installations and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf states. The Islamic Republic’s strategy was to immediately raise and disperse the cost of the war by destabilizing the global economy and pressuring the Gulf states over their security ties with Washington—all while projecting resilience in a war of survival. Iran has justified its attacks by alleging that U.S. and Israeli forces used Gulf bases and airspace to carry out Operation Epic Fury on February 28. Gulf officials have uniformly denied this, and Tehran has offered no evidence. For many in the region, the more salient reality is that Washington proceeded with the war despite explicit Gulf opposition—fueling Gulf resentment of an American policy seen as indifferent to the security of its closest Arab partners. More than a month into the conflict, the Gulf states are operating in a fundam…

Why Iran's neighbours fear possible US strikes - News24 16 Jan From the Gulf states to Turkey and Pakistan, Iran’s neighbours know well the risks that US strikes targeting the Islamic Republic would entail, from regional conflagration to waves of migration. AFP looks at the potential regional impacts of any escalation. The main concern of Washington’s allies in the Gulf is Iranian retaliation. Even though they benefit from US protection, they host American military sites that could be targeted by Iranian counter-strikes. In June, during the 12-day war with Israel, Iran fired missiles at the Al Udeid US military base in Qatar, the biggest in the region. Qatar joined Saudi Arabia and Oman in urging US President Donald Trump’s administration to postpone strikes on Iran, a Saudi official told AFP on Wednesday. Despite being weakened by the war with Israel, Iran remains a potent threat. The worst-case scenario for the Gulf states, although it does not appear imminent, would be direct targeting of their infrastructure. READ |Military threats on Iran ‘adds volatility’ to a ‘combustible situation’, warns UN official The Gulf states “know they are vulnerable because the Iranians ha…

Recent Diplomatic Dynamics in West Asia: Is Gulf Security Shifting from ... Recent Diplomatic Dynamics in West Asia: Is Gulf Security Shifting from the U.S. to China’s Hands? in World by Syed Mohammad Raghib 08/05/2026 The geopolitical landscape of West Asia is undergoing a profound transformation. For more than seven decades, the United States acted as the principal security guarantor of the Gulf region, maintaining military bases, naval fleets, intelligence partnerships, and strategic alliances with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain. However, in recent years, especially after the U.S. military withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan and Washington’s increasing strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific, Gulf States have begun reassessing their long-term security dependence on the United States. Simultaneously, China has expanded its economic, diplomatic, and technological footprint across West Asia. Beijing’s growing role in mediating regional disputes, investing in infrastructure, and maintaining energy partnerships has raised a critical strategic question: Is Gulf security gradually shifting from American dominance to Chinese influence? The an…

The Case for a Collective Security Organization in the Gulf Source: Getty The Gulf needs a regional security organization that includes Iran and the six GCC members to address two key issues: how an anticipated U.S.–Iran thaw will affect the Gulf’s relations with Iran, and what Gulf countries can do to contribute to a stable, strong Iraqi state. In light of the new political realities affecting the Gulf today, mainly with regard to the relationship between the United States and Iran, it is vital to think of new and different mechanisms to repair the security situation in the Gulf. In so doing, it is worthwhile taking into consideration the experience of Europe with the Helsinki process. The Helsinki Final Act was adopted at the conclusion of the Conference on Security Cooperation in Europe on August 1, 1975. Thirty-five states from the western and socialist camps committed to the Conference’s declaration, including the United States and the Soviet Union. The Conference’s meetings had begun in September 1973 and continued throughout July 1975 and were attended by the secretary-general of the United Nations, the director-general of UNESCO, and the executive secretary of the Unite…

For Gulf States, the Iran-U.S. Deal Offers Relief but Little Reassurance This is Beirut As the U.S. and Iran move to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the regional conflict and reopen commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, analysts say key security concerns among Arab Gulf states remain unresolved. "The deal benefits Gulf states by reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but beyond that, it is unclear whether it addresses Iran's regional threats, ballistic missile program, or proxy militias," military analyst Riad Kahwaji told This is Beirut. U.S. and Iranian officials are set to sign the MoU in Switzerland on June 19, with its text still officially under wraps. Leaks and public comments by U.S. and Iranian officials suggest the agreement would halt hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon, provide sanctions relief to Tehran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and launch a 60-day negotiation process that could be extended as talks continue toward a broader final settlement. "Peace is still far away, and regional stability remains far-fetched," Kahwaji said. "This agreement will not bring stability; it could instead generate more instability becaus…

Gulf States Confront Limits of US Security Guarantees Weeks after a fragile ceasefire took hold, residents across the Gulf still scan the skies with unease. Iranian missiles and drones reached targets from Riyadh to Doha during the recent conflict, disrupting airports, energy facilities, and daily routines in ways few anticipated. For decades, these nations invested heavily in Western alliances precisely to avoid such scenarios, yet the fighting laid bare how quickly those safeguards can unravel when larger powers set the agenda. The presence ofAmerican basesacross Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia had long formed the cornerstone of regional defense thinking. These installations, paired with massive arms deals and diplomatic courtship in Washington, created the perception of an effective deterrent. In practice, they became priority targets once hostilities erupted on February 28, leaving civilian infrastructure and populations exposed as Iranian retaliation intensified. Gulf officials had lobbied for advance coordination and timely warnings that never fully materialized. As American personnel evacuated key positions, local governments faced the brunt of missile b…

Former Arab League chief responds to Gulf criticism, praises Iran's ... July 1, 2026 at 11:24 am Former Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. [Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency] Former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has responded to criticism from some Gulf officials and commentators, saying his remarks praising Iran’s “smart resilience” were about its confrontation with the United States, not support for attacks on Gulf states. Speaking on the Maw’ed Ma’a Lamis podcast hosted by Egyptian presenter Lamis El Hadidi, Moussa rejected claims that all Gulf countries were angry with him because he had not clearly condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf states. He said: “It is not true that all Gulf countries share this view. There may have been some offensive comments on social media, but the main criticism came from figures such as journalist Abdulrahman Al-Rashed and senior diplomatic adviser to the UAE President Anwar Gargash. Their criticism was measured and reflected opinions that deserve respect.” Moussa added that Al-Rashed had begun one of his articles by saying: “Your Excellency, you know how much we appreciate you.” He said he respected both men and looked forward to…

How the Gulf states' power has been destroyed by the Iran war (Image credit: Warut Lakam/Getty Images) Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Whatsapp Pinterest Share this article Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Gulf states have been crucial to the global economy ever since the first oil shock in 1974 broke the post-war monetary system and ushered in an era of high inflation. With the world's biggest concentrations of oil and gas in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, and with producers locked into the Opec oil-exporters cartel, which could switch supplies on and off at will, the region held the world's energy supplies in its hands. That gave its rulers immense power and the wealth to buy up a vast range of assets. Interest rates , equity prices and inflation all over the globe were often determined by events in that one small region of the world. It mattered. That looks to have changed. As the US and Israel attacked Iran, there were plenty of dire warnings that the oil price would go to $150 a barrel, or perhaps even $200. Flights would have to be cancelled as we ran short of jet fuel; petrol w…

A New Path to Middle East Security - Foreign Affairs A New Path to Middle East Security How American Commitments in the Gulf Can Rebuild the Regional Order James F. Jeffrey and Elizabeth Dent November 13, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 2025 Brian Snyder / Reuters JAMES F. JEFFREY is Philip Solondz Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He served as a Foreign Service Officer in seven U.S. administrations. From 2018 to 2020, he was Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. ELIZABETH M. DENT is Nathan and Esther K. Wagner Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She previously served as Director for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. More by James F. Jeffrey More by Elizabeth Dent Listen Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in . Share & Download Print Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in . Save Sign in and save to read later Close Share A New Path to Middle East Security How American Commitments in the Gulf Can Rebuild the Regional Order James F. Je…

The Gulf states in a fluid post-war Middle East The monarchical Arab Gulf states emerged on the other side of last June’s Israeli and USattacks on Iranlargely unscathed, with the important exception of a limited, retaliatory Iranian missile strike on the American airbase in Qatar. However, in a larger sense, this short war, part of the broader regional conflict that began with the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, reinforced theprecariousnessof the Gulf monarchies’ security situation. Despite their efforts over recent years to normalize relations with Iran, this did not prevent Tehran from threatening to hit back against US forces stationed on their territory — a threat actually carried out against Qatar. Their close relations with the United States, displayed during President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in May 2025, proved to be of little use in their efforts to urge restraint on Washington during the conflict. When Trump praised Iran for being “very nice” in its limited strike on Qatar, rather than responding to an attack on an ally that hosts the largest American military base in the region, Gulf leaders may well have harked b…

Gulf States Are Frustrated by Failure to Tackle Iran's Missiles ... Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT During the war in Iran, Persian Gulf nations were targeted by an onslaught of Iranian missile and drone attacks that hit airports, energy facilities, hotels, and military installations. So when the preliminary deal struck this week between Iran and the United States left out a provision on missiles and drones, officials in the region felt a sense of frustration, according to analysts. “They didn’t expect anything, but they’re still disappointed,” said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, a Washington-based think tank. On Wednesday, President Trump added to the concern by telling a news conference at the Group of 7 summit in France that Iran should be able to have some ballistic missiles because neighboring countries have them too. Mr. Trump’s comments were in stark contrast with comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the early days of the war that the United States was attacking Iran to “eliminate the threat of Iran’s short-range ballistic missiles.” “They’re not going to have these ballistic missiles and they’re not going to have drone…

US-Iran deal could leave Gulf states in the lurch: analysts ANI After bearing the brunt of Iran's attacks in a war they never wanted, the US-Iran deal has left Gulf states feeling exposed to proxies and missiles and frustrated with an unreliable US ally, analysts said. Tehran's aerial salvoes and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have posed an existential threat to the Gulf countries and their economic model. The memorandum of understanding due to be signed this week will not permanently end the war. It buys negotiators another 60 days, extending a state of uncertainty that is bad for business. The agreement shies away from key Gulf security concerns, forcing countries in the region to seek their own channels with Iran to protect their interests as they face an emboldened neighbour while US President Donald Trump is eager to end the war quickly, experts have said. Everything suggests that the memorandum "will almost certainly fail to address the Gulf states' core security concerns over Iran's offensive military capabilities, notably its missiles, drones and regional militia networks," said Hasan Alhasan of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Live Events Gulf leaders …

'They have been exposed': The Iran war upends Gulf states' security and ... The Gulf Arab states are geographically close to the sites of some of the world’s most devastating recent conflicts, including Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. Though some of them have faced attacks from the Houthis, they were largely spared significant, persistent spillover attacks from Iran inside their borders. All that changed on February 28, with the launch of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Iran retaliated by targeting Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with about 83 percent of its total missile and drone strikes during the war, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) receiving the most attacks out of any country, including Israel. The shock from the war and worries over future strikes threaten the sense of security, prosperity, and opportunity that Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular have spent years and billions of dollars cultivating as they seek to diversify their economies away from oil. As a longtime investor in the region told me: “The perception of the Gulf Arab states as safe havens in a tough region is shattered and will be challenging to reverse for some time. They likely will have…

After the Iran war, Persian Gulf nations face tough ... - The Conversation Altaf Qadri/AP When the US-Israeli war on Iran finally ends, the Middle East will be even less predictable than it was before it started. The decision by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go to war – and the Iranian response – may be a watershed moment for the region. It is highly unlikely the Persian Gulf states will be prepared to pay a similar price again for the US to pursue its own interests. When the war began, these countries quickly found that neither their alignment with the US security umbrella, nor their recent diplomatic engagement with Iran, prevented them from being targeted. More than 1,700 Iranian missiles and drones have been fired at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone. Hundreds more have fallen on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Where does the region go once the bombs stop dropping? Will the Gulf countries recalibrate their relations with the US, and if so, to what extent? Firefighting crews working to contain a fire after a drone attack at Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. Vantor/AP A balancing act with the US After the war …

Why Arab states are terrified of US war with Iran - Responsible Statecraft They see the military build-up and know that bombing and regime change can have consequences, especially geopolitical ones As an American attack onIranseems increasingly inevitable, America’s allies in the Persian Gulf — the very nations hosting U.S. bases and bracing anxiously for an Iranian blowback — are terrified of escalation and are lobbying Washington to stop it . The scale of the U.S. mobilization is indeedstaggering. Asreportedby the Responsible Statecraft’s Kelley Vlahos, at least 108 air tankers are in or heading to the CENTCOM theater. As military officers reckon, strikes can now happen “at any moment.” These preparations suggest not only that the operation may be imminent, but also that it could be more sustainable and long-lasting than a one-off strike in Iranian nuclear sites last June. There is an increasing sense of doom among the regional observers: given the scale of the build-up, there is no face-saving way for President Donald Trump to call off strikes and rescue himself from a situation into which he has needlessly driven himself into. But while U.S. military planners look at targe…

Shockwaves Across the Gulf - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Source: Getty The countries in the region are managing the fallout from Iranian strikes in a paradoxical way. Iranian strikes on targets in the Gulf countriesin retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 has disrupted a delicate balance that had prevailed in the region. The central question now facing Gulf leaders is clear: Can they continue relying on the United States for protection, or must they begin reconsidering their entire security strategy? For decades, governments in these countries had regarded Iran as a strategic rival, yet this competition had played out through proxy conflicts, political standoffs, and diplomatic measures. The latest strikes have changed that pattern. By targeting multiple locations in the Gulf, Iran signaled that it was willing to bring the confrontation closer to the region’s core economic and political centers. Today, leaders in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and other Gulf capitals face a new and uncomfortable reality: they must respond to Iranian pressure while trying to avoid being pulled into a wider regional war. The latest escalation with Iran, comi…

WHAT NEXT FOR THE GULF? <figure class='media w-full sm:w-full media--center media--uneven media--stretch' data-original-src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/07/05014632bf9a205.webp'> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2026/07/05014632bf9a205.webp' alt=' An illustration showing (top, left to right) the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Bahrain&rsquo;s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Kuwait&rsquo;s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said, Qatar&rsquo;s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, (and bottom) the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over a map of the Gulf with pre-war ship locator markings showing ships travelling via the Strait of Hormuz ' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>An illustration showing (top, left to right) the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman Ha…

How the Iran war could change the US relationship with Gulf states US President Donald Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to White House on November 18, 2025. (REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak) WASHINGTON—The next phase of the Iran war will be defined by uncertainty. At the moment, there is uncertainty over whether the United States, Israel, or Iran will escalate the conflict further. This phase could end abruptly if the conflict does escalate, or it might persist for some time, since even a lull in attacks or a deal might not sustainably address the fundamental issues that led to the outbreak of conflict. What is known, however, is that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states sit at the center of this uncertainty. It is those states—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—that Iran would likely target with even more drones, missiles, and potentially further asymmetric attacks if the war intensified. And, more importantly, it will be those states that will share their neighborhood with the Iran that emerges from this conflict. Prior to the current conflict, many in Washington viewed GCC countries as holding the keys to reso…

The Emirates on the Tightrope | Colin Powers Visit us on Facebook! Opens External Webpage Visit us on Twitter! Opens External Webpage Visit us on Threads! Opens External Webpage Visit us on Bluesky! Opens External Webpage Mail to Print page On Sunday, March 22, the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister, Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, maternal brother of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, put on a brave face. The evening prior, President Donald Trump declared that if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened within forty-eight hours, he would order strikes on Iranian power plants. The announcement prompted Iran’s military command to specify that any such attack would bring destruction to the energy, IT, and water facilities servicing the American military within the Gulf. Because the power stations and desalination plants on the target list were public utilities, serving resident populations as well as the range of forces directed by US CENTCOM, Iran’s prospective retaliation imperiled practically everyone living in the UAE. Paying little heed to the fact that his own allies were driving the escalation—and, indeed, had started the war itself—the UAE’s foreign minister responded t…

From Shield to Target: The Gulf's Security Dilemma Apr 17, 2026 Regardless of the outcome of ongoing U.S.-Iranian negotiations, Gulf states are likely to speed up the diversification of their defense partnerships, including with each other, though many hurdles have yet to be overcome. 11 min read For decades, Gulf Arab states have structured their defense policies around close alignment with Washington, investing heavily in arms purchases, hosting military facilities, and embedding themselves within a U.S.-led regional order designed to shield them from external threats, particularly from Iran. But Gulf states have long had concerns about the extent of U.S. protection and whether the presence of U.S. bases in the region shields them or increases their vulnerability. The current U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has brought these concerns into sharp focus. Despite actively seeking toavoid escalation, Gulf Cooperation Council states themselves have been directly exposed to retaliation, with key infrastructure hit by missile and drone strikes. Regardless of the outcome of ongoing U.S.-Iranian negotiations, what is unfolding is a turning point forcing Gulf states to reconsider the f…

Iran Calls for Islamic NATO - The Iran Post Iran Calls for Islamic NATO NEWSWEEK-Sept 15th2025 By Amir Daftari Iran and Egypt are spearheading new calls for a NATO-style alliance in the Middle East as their leaders gather in Qatar on Monday for an emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The proposal, spurred by Israel’s recent strike on a residential compound in Doha that housed Hamas negotiators, represents the most serious push in decades for a unified regional defense pact. Newsweek has contacted to the Foreign Ministries of Egypt and Iran for comment. Why It Matters The latest escalation reflects a dramatic shift in Middle Eastern security priorities. Following a 12-day series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets earlier this year, ongoing strikes in Gaza, and Israel’s recent attack on Doha, Muslim leaders are increasingly portraying Israel as the destabilizing force across the region. Arab and Iranian officials warn that failure to act could leave states across the Middle East vulnerable to further Israeli operations. The emergency OIC summit is now seen as a pivotal moment to determine whether Muslim nations can transform calls for unity into a co…

The Limits of Neutrality for Gulf States in the U.S.-Israel-Iran War Stay updated and subscribe to our newsletters The joint strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel on Iran that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei triggered a war that has expanded to include much of the Gulf region.1Despite several Gulf states stating that their territory could not be used for the war by the U.S. or Israel, Iran has targeted U.S. military assets across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, with an impact on civilian infrastructure.2Gulf air defenses have intercepted missiles and drones in near-daily incidents, placing Gulf governments under increasing pressure to respond while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict.3 Amid escalating Iranian pressure on Gulf states, the region finds itself facing a highly complex security environment that no longer fits a clear distinction between war and peace. On the one hand, Gulf states seek to avoid direct involvement in an open confrontation, not only to protect their economic and developmental achievements but also to prevent the destruction of their relations with major global and regional powers. On the other hand, they …

West Asia's old security order is dead and gone - Asia Times West Asia is not returning to the old regional order. Too many assumptions have failed, and too many actors have discovered the limits of their power. For years, security in the region was treated as something that could be imposed: by American military presence, Israeli deterrence, Iranian strategic depth, Gulf wealth, Turkish influence or the pressure of armed non-state groups. Each actor believed that enough force, money, alliances or pressure could shape the environment around it. That confidence is weaker now. The Gaza war, the US-Israel-Iran war, attacks on Red Sea shipping, the Hormuz blockades, the growing role of non-state actors and Arab doubts about relying entirely on Washington have pushed West Asia into a new security reality. No single state, and no single camp, can define stability on its own. Although the US and Israel remain the region’s strongest military actors, their current confrontation with Iran has exposed the limits of military power. The campaign did not deliver the quick or decisive success many in Washington and Tel Aviv had expected. Instead, it imposed heavy financial costs. Israel’s Financ…

Saudi Arabia Is Building a Post-War Middle East Security Pact, and the ... Saudi Arabia has proposed a regional non-aggression pact between Middle Eastern states and Iran, modelled on the 1975 Helsinki Accords, according to diplomats cited by theFinancial Times— an initiative that would establish Gulf security guarantees independent of Washington and potentially without Israel. The proposal comes as US-Iran ceasefire talks remain narrowly focused on the Strait of Hormuz, leaving unresolved Iran’s missile program, drone capabilities, and support for armed proxy groups — the threats that matter most to Gulf states. “Iran is not going anywhere and this is why the Saudis are pushing it,” an Arab diplomat told the FT. Saudi Arabia floats Middle Eastern non-aggression pact with Iranhttps://t.co/9o3PMxoxJe The 1975 Accords — signed by the US, the Soviet Union, Canada, and most European states — secured the common acceptance of post-World War II borders and established commitments to human rights and economic cooperation. Their significance lay less in binding legal force than in the legitimacy they conferred on a new security architecture. Saudi Arabia is seeking an analogous framew…

Gulf state cooperation has long been shaped by the threat of Iran − but ... Leaders attend the 45th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Kuwait City, Kuwait on Dec.01, 2024. Amiri Diwan of Kuwait/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Arab Gulf countries, battered economically and physically by the war with Iran, were keen to put on a united front at a key regional meeting on April 28, 2026. Gathering in the Saudi city Jeddah, representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council warned the Iranian government in Tehran that an attack on any one of its six members would be taken as an attack on all . Rejecting Iran’s claims to control of the Strait of Hormuz, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani later described the summit as embodying “the unified Gulf stance” over the conflict. The show of togetherness may seem at odds with other recent developments that have seen members of the GCC split over policy and vision for the region – not least the United Arab Emirate’s decision to quit the oil cartel OPEC. But to followers of Gulf politics , like myself, the scene felt familiar. Time and again, Iran has accomplished what no outside mediator could: It has pushed divided Gulf Arab states togethe…

How Three Months of War Changed the Gulf Forever - Iran For decades, people in the wealthy Gulf Arab nations watched the wars of the region unfold on their televisions. War happened to their neighbors — in Yemen, in Syria, in Gaza — but not to them. That illusion was shattered by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. It upended these countries’ sense of security, hobbled their energy-rich economies and pushed them to reconsider defense strategies. The American military bases on their soil — rather than shielding them from any harm — had made them the targets for thousands of Iranian missiles and drones. The fighting appears to be over, at least for now, and yet many in the Gulf countries worry that the deal emerging between the United States and Iran will do little to alleviate the threat that Iran poses to them, analysts say. In a tacit acknowledgment of the Gulf’s concerns, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with several of the region’s Arab leaders this week, seeking to reassure them. He told reporters in Kuwait on Wednesday that the United States was “not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies.” Yet with their vulnerabilities exposed, the Gulf countries have…

The Gulf that emerges from the Iran war will be very different Smoke rises in Sharjah, following reports of Iranian attacks after United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on March 1, 2026. (REUTERS/Amr Alfiky) WASHINGTON—The opening days of the latest Iran war shocked the Gulf to its core. Within the first forty-eight hours of the conflict, Iran targeted all the countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which suffered the brunt of hundreds of drones and missiles, to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and beyond. Iran did not limit its strikes to US military bases in many of those countries; it also targeted civilian sites, including airports and hotels, followed by major oil and gas infrastructure. Gulf air defenses were largely effective against Iranian missiles, helping prevent catastrophic damage, but Iranian drones proved harder to repel. The casualties and damage from drones to major airports and iconic tourist spots will have lasting consequences on the region’s reputation as a business hub. In response to Iran’s assault, the GCC states have banded together, demonstrating that even amid a public feud betw…

The Emergency Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh: Is the Region Moving ... Analysis Middle East The Emergency Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh: Is the Region Moving Toward War? By capadmin On Mar 20, 2026 Share Assessment Report by Dr. Mohamad Kawas – Progress Center for Policies ⸻ Introduction At a notable moment and upon Saudi invitation, an Arab–Islamic ministerial meeting was convened in Riyadh, producing a set of positions regarding Iran’s attacks on several countries in the region. Both the final communiqué and ministers’ statements carried language open to interpretation, implicitly leaving room for the “right of response.” ⸻ Key Developments • On March 18, 2026, Saudi Arabia hosted an extraordinary consultative ministerial meeting in Riyadh, bringing together foreign ministers from a number of Arab and Islamic countries. • The meeting included foreign ministers from 12 countries: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. • According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the official objective was to enhance consultation and coordination on ways to support regional security and stability, with a focus o…