Gulf States Rally Allies to Counter Iranian Aggression

Gulf states in the Middle East are increasingly relying on their military allies to bolster defences against Iranian aggression, experts say. But the extent to which these allies can provide meaningful support remains uncertain.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain - have long-standing ties with Western powers like the United States, United Kingdom and France. They also have relationships with Russia and China.

These alliances have taken on greater importance as tensions with Iran have escalated in recent years, with a series of attacks on oil facilities, tankers and other infrastructure in the Gulf region.

According to Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, the Gulf states are "looking for greater assurances and support" from their allies in the face of the Iranian threat.

"They want greater intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, and potentially the deployment of missile defense systems and other military hardware," Geranmayeh said.

The US, for example, has thousands of troops based in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, as well as advanced weapons and air defense systems. Britain and France also have a military presence in the region.

However, experts say the ability of these allies to provide meaningful support is limited. The US in particular is reluctant to get drawn into another conflict in the Middle East, and European militaries have limited capabilities to project power in the Gulf.

"There's a recognition that the Gulf states can't rely solely on their Western allies," said Geranmayeh. "They're also looking to Russia and China to balance their relationships and provide alternative sources of support."

But the Gulf states' relationships with Russia and China are more complicated, with concerns about the extent to which these powers can be trusted partners.

Ultimately, experts say the Gulf states are in a difficult position, needing support to counter Iranian threats while also maintaining a delicate balance between their various international alliances.