Gulf States Uneasy with US Strategy, Seek Diversification, Says Chatham House Expert
نظرة سريعة
Sanam Vakil of Chatham House states Gulf states remain reliant on the US for security but are uneasy with Washington's 'regime change-light strategy,' urging them to diversify defense relationships and manage diplomatic tracks amid an 'uncomfortable moment' with uncertain US policy and unpredictable Iran.
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لماذا يهم
Sanam Vakil of Chatham House commented on regional governments' deep reliance on the US for security but increasing unease with Washington’s long-term strategy.
Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, said on Wednesday that regional governments remained deeply reliant on the United States for security but were increasingly uneasy about Washington’s long-term strategy.
Despite US President Donald Trump’s pledge during a visit to the region in May last year that Washington would not pursue regime change, the administration instead adopted a “regime change-light strategy” that proved destabilising, according to Vakil.
Vakil said that while the region faced a “very uncomfortable moment” amid uncertain US policy and a more pragmatic yet still unpredictable Iran, the Gulf states had to help shape the outcome of this war as well, and not just outsource it to the Trump administration.
“The strategy going forward … is to diversify their defence relationships to build up their capabilities over the short and medium term, but also to continue managing the diplomatic track,” she said. “Geography is their destiny.”
Her remarks come as Washington and Tehran strive to realise lasting peace following more than 100 days of conflict.
أسئلة مفتوحة
- What specific defense relationships will Gulf states diversify?
- How will Gulf states manage the diplomatic track with Iran?
- What are the precise elements of the 'regime change-light strategy'?
