CIAO DATE: 02/2013
December 2012
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The US cannot hope to achieve a successful resolution to Iran’s nuclear weapons programs, or establish security in the Gulf, without the support of its military partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE all provide important contributions to the effort to deter and defend against Iran, and any threat to the export of some 20% of the world’s oil supplies. They provide forces, basing rights, and political support that is a critical part of efforts to persuade Iran that it must negotiate, and their support will be equally critical in US efforts to contain Iran or carry out preventive strikes. USCENTCOM already plays a critical role in integrating the forces of each state into a more effective military deterrent and warfighting capacity. So do more than $64 billion in new arms agreement the US has signed over the last half decade. Despite this assistance, there is no way that the individual Gulf states, or even the GCC as a whole, could bring to bear the capabilities the US can provide. These assets include the mix of US intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, battle management, and high technology capacities, as well as valuable lessons gained from recent warfighting experience the US can apply to training and exercises.
Resource link: Moving towards Unity: Expanding the Role of the GCC in Gulf Security [PDF] - 270K