Afkār is a publication of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, providing short-form analyses, insights, and perspectives on regional issues and developments from the Council's experts and outside contributors. Afkār is published in English and Arabic, and is edited by Omar H. Rahman.
Gulf states have long held varying approaches to their relations with Iran, based on a number of factors. The ongoing war has reinforced the notion that this is unlikely to change.
Bilateral peace talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan were structurally flawed by excluding the Gulf states. If an agreement is to hold up in the long-run, it must incorporate the Gulf states and their interests.
As Gulf states have come under attack, the limits of their external security guarantees have been exposed, while the defensive capabilities these ties have enabled have proved extremely valuable.
As regional tensions intensify, Gulf states are reconsidering their long-standing security arrangements with Washington and pushing for a relationship that better reflects their interests and strategic autonomy.