HE GULF AND NATO – TIME TO REVISIT RELATIONS –
HE GULF AND NATO – TIME TO REVISIT RELATIONS –

Summary/Abstract: With key security issues such as Iran, Iraq and oil all on their doorstep, Gulf States need to think about a new direction for their security arrangements. In this article, the author shares his own views on why more cooperation with NATO may be one of the answers. The recent crisis illustrates that the Gulf region has an economic and security-related stake that is related and tied to both regional and international developments. Up to now, the main strategy to provide for Gulf security has been to rely on one big external power, the US, to maintain the status quo, regulate the relationships among the regional states, and provide at least a minimum of security. However, a redirection in the way the Arab Gulf states should view their security is needed. In the author’s opinion, it is time for the GCC States to send a strong signal to NATO of their desire to see cooperation deepened and expanded. Closer ties between NATO and the GCC become a viable alternative that can assist the region with the stability it requires, while maintaining the links to the necessary presence of the US.

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