Gulf nations can no longer rely solely on the United States for their security and must strengthen their autonomy, Qatar says, following six months of war in the Middle East. Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, noted that while the strategic alliance with the United States is important, it is not enough.
“We must realize in the Gulf that having international forces in the region and a strategic alliance with the United States is very important, but it is not enough,” Majed Al-Ansari said on the sidelines of the Hili forum, a regional platform for strategic dialogue. He added that autonomy in security matters is the only way forward, as the region cannot rely exclusively on partners and allies.
Dialogue with Iran and regional stability
Qatar acts as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, despite having faced attacks from Iran. The Islamic Republic has targeted American facilities in neighboring countries and energy infrastructure in the Gulf in response to United States strikes on its territory. Regional allies of Washington host numerous American bases.
During the same forum in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates advocated for rebuilding trust with Iran. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the president of the UAE, emphasized that dialogue with Iran must be ambitious and go beyond current issues to address broader strategic concerns for the entire Gulf region, including security, freedom of navigation, non-interference, and economic cooperation. “Trust is a mountain that must be climbed, but it is worth it,” Anwar Gargash added.
Source: Clarín
