Politics
The spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Gulf countries cannot rely solely on the United States and other global alliances for their security.
The spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Gulf countries cannot rely solely on the United States and other global alliances for their security. Instead, they will have to become more self-reliant when it comes to their security. Speaking at the Helly Forum in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Monday, he said, “We need to understand that the presence of global forces in the region and the strategic alliance with the United States are very important, but they are not enough.”
He added, “Self-reliance in security matters is the only way forward. We need our partners and allies, but we cannot rely solely on them for our security.” Qatar is playing an important mediating role in the war between the United States and Iran and has also faced intense attacks from Iran, particularly targeting its energy infrastructure.
Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East. During the war, Iran repeatedly targeted US military installations there and energy facilities across the region in response to US attacks.
The six-month-long war has left efforts between the two rival countries at a standstill. Iran has disrupted maritime traffic in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, while the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in response. Last month, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Tehran as part of mediation efforts. The visit came at a time when Iran and Oman, which are located on opposite sides of the Strait of Hormuz, announced talks on establishing a temporary maritime corridor and clearing naval mines.
