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The Gulf must build security that can outlast this war
Gulf defence ministers have approved a forward command in Kuwait, a step towards Gulf states taking greater collective responsibility for their security. The article argues that the move matters because the current war has exposed threats that no single security pact or partner can address, and any end to the fighting would leave those risks in place.
It calls for a layered, connected system combining national and Gulf Cooperation Council capabilities with US cooperation and other partnerships. Examples include a US Central Command air and missile defence coordination cell at Al Udeid, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, and the Badr memorandum on defence industry cooperation involving Qatar, Türkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia. These agreements cover different needs, from operational coordination to collective defence and manufacturing, and their value depends on deliberate links between them; the article notes that Qatar gains no automatic guarantee from Mecca through its other partnerships.
In short
- Gulf states have approved a forward military command in Kuwait.
- The article urges a connected, layered approach to regional security.
- Partnerships need practical coordination; membership links do not create automatic guarantees.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A forward command and better links among Gulf and partner defence arrangements could help states respond to threats that cross borders and expose gaps in any one alliance. Building regional capacity alongside US cooperation may give Gulf countries more resilience and a stronger role in shaping their own security after the war.
The case against
Adding commands and overlapping agreements may create complexity, unclear obligations or competing priorities unless states agree how they work together and who leads in a crisis. A focus on military integration could also deepen reliance on external partners or commitments without resolving the political differences that limit collective action.