Gulf states cannot rely solely on the US and international alliances for their security and need to become more self-sufficient, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday.
“We need to realise in the Gulf that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the United States, is very important, but is not enough,” Majid Al Ansari said at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi.
“Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward,” he added, stressing that Gulf states still need their partners and allies but cannot depend on them alone.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the UAE is building alternative routes for its energy exports and trade to ensure they are not ‘held hostage’ by the ongoing war between the US and Iran.
The conflict has had a significant impact on Gulf Arab states, including the UAE, after Tehran fired missiles at the country and attacked its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity,” Gargash said.
The UAE has been expanding port capacity along its eastern coast, as well as developing pipelines, railways and trade routes for alternative corridors, he said.
While acknowledging that relations with Iran could eventually recover, Gargash warned that rebuilding trust after the attacks could take decades.
Gargash argued that while the partnership with the US is essential, the six-month conflict has exposed the importance of national capabilities. “Our security is our first priority. When we depend entirely on others, we cannot always assume it will be their priority,” he said.
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