How US-Iran conflict is forcing Gulf states to rethink their security strategies, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The US-Iran conflict, involving US strikes and Iranian retaliation, ceased attacks on July 25 after nearly two weeks.
• Kuwait ratified a Defense Co-operation Agreement (DCA) with Pakistan on July 26 for a five-year period.
• Qatar committed to deepening its security cooperation with Pakistan following bilateral talks in Doha.
• The US-Iran conflict reignited the war between Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which had been dormant since 2022.
• The US aims to degrade Iran’s ability to enforce Memorandum of Understanding’s Article 5 regarding the joint administration of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Saudi Arabia entered a 123 Agreement with the US on July 22 to begin nuclear energy cooperation.

Detailed Insights:

• The recurring US-Iran hostilities have prompted Gulf states to prioritize internal capability development and improved military training.
• Kuwait's DCA with Pakistan focuses on military training, intelligence sharing, logistics, and defense technology exchanges.
• This DCA is not a mutual defense pact, unlike the Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SDMA) signed in September 2025.
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states seek long-term defense partners like Pakistan to build domestic military capabilities.
• The Saudi-Houthi conflict resumed on July 14 after the Saudi-based Yemeni government in exile bombed Sana'a Airport.
• Houthis responded by firing ballistic missiles into Saudi territory and declaring a naval blockade in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
• Saudi Arabia's strategy shifted towards engagement with Iran and Yemen after the 2019 Houthi attacks on Aramco facilities.
• Riyadh participated in US strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq on July 29, aiming to deter Iran's "Axis of Resistance" without escalating the Houthi conflict.
• Saudi Arabia's pursuit of nuclear power under the 123 Agreement increases its need for regional stability to protect future nuclear facilities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Defense Co-operation Agreement (DCA): A bilateral agreement between countries to enhance military cooperation, training, and intelligence sharing.
• Memorandum of Understanding’s Article 5: A provision within an agreement, in this context, allowing joint Iranian and Omani administration of the Strait of Hormuz.
• 123 Agreement: A bilateral agreement under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, enabling peaceful nuclear cooperation between the U.S. and another country.
• Bab-el-Mandeb strait: A narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, critical for global shipping.