Qatar Official Says US Alliance Alone Not Enough for Gulf Security

sajadi Editor : Widi - Monday, 7 September 2026 - 21:19 WIB

Monday, 7 September 2026 - 21:19 WIB

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Doha, MINA – Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said today that the war with Iran had shown Gulf Arab states should not rely solely on their strategic partnership with the United States to ensure their security, the Palestinian Information Center reports.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, he said: “We have to realise in the Gulf region that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the US is very important but is not enough. Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward.”

The war between the United States and Iran, which escalated significantly in early 2026, has exposed Gulf states’ vulnerabilities and highlighted the limitations of their reliance on US military protection.

Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on US bases in Gulf countries, including Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, as well as targeting civilian and commercial infrastructure in the region. Despite the US presence in the Gulf, the conflict has shown that Gulf states can be directly affected by the hostilities and that US defenses, while significant, are not infallible.

The comments come amid growing calls in the Gulf for diversification of security arrangements, including strengthening domestic defense capabilities, developing regional security frameworks, and reducing dependence on external powers. Some Gulf states have sought to improve relations with Iran and other regional actors to reduce tensions, while others have invested in advanced defense systems, including missile defense, drone technology, and cyber capabilities.

The Hili Forum, where Al Ansari spoke, is a platform for discussing regional security and diplomacy.

Qatar, like other Gulf states, hosts US military facilities, including Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest US military installations in the Middle East.

However, Doha has also maintained a relatively independent foreign policy, including mediating between the US and Iran and engaging with groups that some of its allies consider adversaries.

Al Ansari’s statement reflects a broader trend in Gulf strategic thinking, as the region seeks to navigate an increasingly volatile security environment shaped by the US-Iran conflict, the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and shifting global power dynamics.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)