Abstract:
U.S foreign policy interests in the Middle East and Persian Gulf region has always had
three components: economy, security and politics. It is not overstated to stress the centrality
of energy resources in the economic sector as a predominant factor. In this context,
securing access to energy and the flow of oil become vital for world economic prosperity.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, added more impetus to the U.S security issues
in the Persian Gulf. President Bush's doctrine of "preemptive war" and "the global war on
terror" placed the Persian Gulf region at the heart of his post-9/11 strategic vision. The
Bush administration used the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington as a great
opportunity to revamp the regional security by undertaking some drastic measures. The
invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the idea of regime change in Iran as well as other
American Neocons' grandiose plans about the necessity to reshape the "Greater Middle
East", made governments in the region nervous. In addition, by giving prominence to the
"security question" over all other considerations, the US policy plunged the region deeper
into uncertainty.
Washington has systematically tried, and to a large extent succeeded, to securitize the
inter-state relations in the region. This approach combined with the NATO plan to further
its regional partnership, made any significant rapprochement among the Persian Gulf states
on the issue of security almost impossible. For these reasons, a collective regionally crafted
security arrangement that includes littoral states of Iran, Iraq the countries of Persian Gulf
Cooperation Council would be unattainable in a foreseeable future.
Machine summary:
For these reasons, a collective regionally crafted security arrangement that includes littoral states of Iran, Iraq the countries of Persian Gulf Cooperation Council would be unattainable in a foreseeable future.
Behind the façade of conducting a 'just war' on terror, the Bush administration continued to court the Arab rulers of the Persian Gulf to assume a bigger share of the war costs and participate more actively in shaping the entire region of the Middle East.
S Military Instruments for Containing Iran Washington favors the following measures: to extend its military umbrella over the friendly countries in the Persian Gulf through a massive military presence and build-up mainly in Qatar and Bahrain; a close military cooperation between this council members and other pro-American Arab states (Egypt and Jordan as being the only viable players in the region); and a massive sale of military hardware to enhance the capability.
Since the (Persian) Gulf War (1991), defense cooperation agreements permitting access and pre-positioning have been signed with Kuwait Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Details of the new Middle East military sale/aid came as secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, left Washington for a joint trip to the region, seeking assurances of help in stabilizing Iraq and forging new assistance agreements with the Persian Gulf States, Israel, and Egypt: Rice said in a statement.
1- The Persian Gulf Co-operation Council (PGCC) was created in response to the Iraq-Iran war as a regional security arrangement.