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Security and military balance in the Arabian Gulf is a vital issue with significant implications for regional and global security, due to the tensions and instability plaguing the strategically and economically important region. The Arabian Gulf’s geological formations made it one of the world’s richest oil and gas regions as regards production and international reserves. Experts said that if the world is a flat circle, there is good reason to believe that the Arabian Gulf is the center of that circle.
The Arabian Gulf’s regional stability is vital for global economic stability for the foreseeable future since the GCC states plus Iraq and Yemen possess 84% of the world’s proved oil reserves and one-third of the world’s proved natural gas reserves. In spite of that, the region was the scene of three wars within just a few years. It was also involved in several crises in which the Iranian neighbors were the common factor. From a strategic point of view, the Arab states should share interests and threats with neighboring countries and such neighborly relations should either create a source of threat or a source of security enhancement. Moreover, the Arab and non-Arab countries of the Middle East form together an strategic grouping of nations, i.e. there is a certain strategic, geographical pattern of relations between the two sides with the high likelihood that this pattern may change according to changes in relations of cooperation or conflict, and agreement or disagreement between the two sides in all spheres.
The Iranian threat in the region:
Iran poses the main threat to the Gulf States, as Tehran represents the gravest military and intelligence threat to these countries. All the GCC states and most of the vital economic and political centers litter the coastal line opposite to Iran. Also, Iran, the U.A.E. and the Sultanate of Oman are overlooking the vital oil lane in the Strait of Hormuz, while the islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb are under Iranian occupation since 1971. Also, Iran is calling on Qatar to slow down the rate of its utilization of the reserves of Al-Shamal field and Pars field, shared by the two countries. Iran has cautioned that it will resort to other means and methods to resolve the issue.
- The fact is that ever since the arrival of the Khomeini revolution in Iran and the religious scholars’ assumption of power and control over life affairs in a rich and sprawling country like Iran, its leaders, regardless of their ranks or responsibilities, have been dreaming of hegemony. They are entertaining the hope of pursuing Da'wa message and revolution by adopting ideological and war concepts rather than dealing with reality and adopting the concept of state, development and international relations.
- The world has expressed optimism towards the governments of Rafsanjani and Khatami when they began to promote Iran as a responsible state within the international community and its relations improved with its neighbors, particularly the Gulf States. Then Iran backtracked and began to act like a permanent reckless state rather than a modern state with relations and obligations. The religious men backslided to the concept of remodeling the world in a way compatible with Iran’s political ideology.
- They only resort to the language of the state, diplomacy and norms when that is suitable for them. However, on other instances the real voice emerges to espouse the language of threats and warnings.
- The established fact is that Iran’s strategy to attain the role of a superpower in the region (subsequently influencing developments and pulling the strings) is no longer a mere hypothesis. In fact, it has become a policy practiced by different means and tools. It was distinctly evident in Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and later in Saudi Arabia, using the Huthi insurgents. Finally, Bahrain has seen the continuation of Iran’s infiltration strategy in the region, in tandem with cultural infiltration through the project for exporting the revolution and Iran’s lavish payments to win media allegiance.
- Bahrain has been a salient landmark in this program, evident in irresponsible statements claiming Iran’s right to annex the Kingdom of Bahrain and inciting the staging of coups and anarchy. This has prompted the Kingdom of Bahrain to request the assistance of the peninsula shield forces.
Further afield, the Iranian military threat against the Gulf states is exemplified in the following:
a. Missile threat: due to the weakness of its air force, Iran is expanding its ballistic missiles arsenal, gradually and systematically. The efforts include increasing the range of its missiles and improving their accuracy and destructive force as well as rendering them less detectable.
b. Naval threat: for various reasons, including the weakness of the Iranian navy, Iran has preferred to purchase and build a large number of speedy military vessels. Converting civilian ships to military purposes, some of them were armed with anti-ship missiles while others were supplied with sea mines. It also has sea-sea missiles launched from boats deployed in the Gulf and along the Iranian coast. This is in addition to its ability to use sea mines to hamper shipping movements in the Gulf.
The Peninsula Shield and the Shift in the GCC Bloc's Strategic Mentality:
In response to these intentions, the six GCC states have taken concrete steps at the level of security cooperation, beginning with the signing of the joint Gulf defense agreement at Manama summit on December 31, 2000. It has also provided for setting up a higher military committee. This is in addition to two other military committees charged with overseeing the above-mentioned projects.
The agreement also called for setting up an early warning system to detect missiles launched by Iraq or Iran as well as a unified communications system linking the command and control centers, communications and intelligence of GCC armed forces. The aim is to reenergize the defense strategy, based on the peninsula shield forces. It also stipulated the commencement of the collective early warning project in 2001 as well as the establishment of a joint defense supreme council. It also called for guiding the armed forces operational procedures and conducting joint military maneuvers and drills.
A closer look at regional developments over the past few months reveals a shift in the GCC states’ strategic thinking indicating that they have decided to take the initiative to bolster their security and deepen corporation. This was due to radical changes at the national, regional and global levels since the beginning of the 21st century, imposing serious new changes. Meanwhile, the GCC states should live up to these changes since the security of any state or group of states is the responsibility of their peoples in the first place. Article (51) of the UN charter states that any state is entitled to take measures to defend its territories if subjected to aggression or a threat of aggression, within an individual or collective framework, until the U.N takes measures to preserve international security and stability. And this is exactly what the GCC states are doing.
The Peninsula Shield and Developments in Bahrain:
The recent developments in Bahrain have focused attention on the power sources of the GCC states as well as on the direct threat sources. This was evident in the movement of the Peninsula Shield Forceto Bahrain and the ensuing reactions.
First: it has distinctly revealed for the first time that there is a joint Gulf thinking as regards Gulf States security. It also showed that there is a force- however nascent – that could play an important role, particularly in the event of a threat or possible threat against a GCC state.
Second: the rapid movement of the force from its base in Saudi Arabia to Bahrain as part of a decision taken by the GCC leaders has taken friends and foes alike by surprise, raising eyebrows as they couldn’t comprehend its significance and the nature of the role of the Peninsula Shield force.
The mission of this force was distinct and noble, beyond any skepticism. It was a participation in the defense of the Kingdom of Bahrain against any foreign threat. The force has not interfered in the domestic affairs of Bahrain. It was only protecting strategic facilities and important industrial and economic sites. This is in addition to protecting Bahrain’s borders against any foreign threat.
Iran- and the quarters influenced by it- produced only three arguments to criticize the Peninsula Shield force:
First: the force was used to suppress the Bahraini people: this is a naive allegation as the force that came to Bahrain did not take part in any operations or deal with the citizens in Bahrain. Its mission was only to protect strategic facilities under threat during the recent events.
Second: the force’s mission is defensive and there is no foreign threat against Bahrain: this argument is also inaccurate as Bahrain was actually subjected to an Iranian threat evident in statements by Iranian leaders, including the supreme guide of the revolution, Iran's president, the foreign minister, the defense minister, the commander of the revolutionary guards as well as the speaker of the Shoura council, Iran’s ambassador to Doha and its former ambassador to Bahrain. All these statements are fraught with threats that Iran will not stand idle with regard to developments in Bahrain, described as “massacres” in the Iranian foreign minister’s letter to the UN Secretary General as well as in statements by other Iranian officials.
Third: the claim that the Peninsula Shield Forceis a Saudi force of invasion, demanding its withdrawal. Again, this is the weakest of all three arguments because the Peninsula Shield Forceis a joint force involving the six GCC states and it was invited by a GCC member state. Also, the force came to Bahrain on the strength of three decades old agreements among the GCC states.
The Following Facts Need to be Stressed:
First: the Peninsula Shield Forceis a defensive force of amity and peace, mounting no aggression against anyone, though it is capable of repelling any threat whether it comes by sea, air or otherwise. It also enjoys the full backing of all the armed forces of the GCC states in any eventuality.
Second: the misleading enemy media and the torrent of lies about the role of this force raised the morale of its personnel, giving them added confidence in the wise political leaders of the GCC states who followed the right course of action. The role of this force is limited and clear in this assignment, governed by agreements and methodologies sans any improvisation. Its mission involves joining Bahrain’s Defense Force to protect Bahrain’s borders against any aggression.
Third: the wise defensive policies of the GCC states, coupled with refraining from any aggression outside their borders, their keenness on capability rather than mere numbers and belief in their mission have totally destroyed the armies that were previously involved in battles in the Gulf, though they were backed by hundreds of thousands of tanks, that were turned to piles of rubble.
Fourth: before moving, the Peninsula Shield Force performed the Gulf commander drill (1) at the command center’s range in Hafr Al-Batten last Muharam. The scenario focused on hypothetical foreign threats to be repelled by the joint Peninsula Shield Force. The drill has greatly enhanced the Force’s preparedness. It also had a positive impact on the planning abilities and coordination between the commands and their units.
Fifth: there are always meetings scheduled by the GCC supreme council and approved by Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC Leaders. These include the military cooperation and joint defense meetings, producing planned steps for the development of the Peninsula Shield Force and the GCC states’ forces in general.
Sixth: the participating units represent the command of the Peninsula Shield Force comprised of all the states with all their weapons, munitions and equipment. Units are selected according to the need and distance: it is not compatible with sound planning to request a unit from a far distance while you have a nearby unit with the same capabilities and readiness.
The Future of the Peninsula Shield:
The security threats of the 21st century are of concern to the world in its entirety. This is due to the rapid electronic advances and the appearance of new players with neither specific commands nor specific locations. Moreover, they have a changing ideology, moving territory and changing commands. The new players are the result of new electronic spaces, using twitter, facebook and others, not to mention the virus war. Therefore, the military cooperation among the GCC states is progressing according to planned programs to upgrade the joint military abilities, including the (Peninsula Shield). The GCC states are striving to continuously develop the Peninsula Shield according to the following:
- The joint military force: the GCC states have declared late in 2009 their intention to establish a rapid military intervention force, headquartered in Riyadh, though they shall continue to be based in their original countries until they are recalled in emergency.
- Command and control: in 2001 a surveillance and detection system was introduced allowing GCC states to keep their air space under surveillance. At the same time it enables them to better coordinate their defense measures. It is linked to the air defense systems of these states to create a unified air space image. Both the Arabic and the English languages are used in the system.
- The joint defense agreement: in 2000, the Gulf leaders agreed to further increase the security cooperation. They signed a joint defense agreement committing the member states to consider any attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.
- Meetings of the higher military committee of the GCC chiefs of staff should focus on the development of the Peninsula Shield:
In October, 2010, the 8th meeting of the military committee of the GCC chiefs of staff, in Kuwait, discussed the progress of military cooperation and joint defense among the GCC states as well as the challenges facing the group. Reviewing the operational and training preparedness attained by the joint Peninsula Shield Force, the committee expressed satisfaction in this regard. In September 2011, a meeting was held, in Abu Dhabi, to discuss the development of the joint Peninsula Shield Force and the possibility of forming a joint command. Such activities indicate that a joint GCC command is strategically important for the time being and the future, enabling GCC states to consolidate efforts and understandings, upgrade potentials and ensure the concept of social security. It also bolsters the defense ability to repel threats and contributes to developing the concept of balanced rapid deterrence.
All parties have spared no effort to back constructive initiatives and devote all potentials for its success. The meeting discussed all these points with a view to reaching a unified vision on the possibility of establishing the joint command.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Plans To Develop the Peninsula Shield Force:
The Saudi policy is aimed at reenergizing joint Gulf action and unifying Arab and Gulf stances. This is based on its Arab, Islamic principles and its historic responsibilities as well as its political, economic, geographical and spiritual weight. Moreover, the Kingdom, since its founding, has adopted a clear attitude, distancing itself from sensitivities or entering into rivalries over the leadership of the Nation. At the same time the Kingdom spared no effort to enhance Arab reconciliation and resolve differences through dialogue and openness. This is in addition to political backing and continuous financial support for Arab causes throughout the last few decades. These endeavors have succeeded in avoiding the deterioration of joint Arab action on many occasions, making the Kingdom the preferred destination for Arab and Muslim leaders at times of crises. The Saudi foreign policy is highly appreciated in the Gulf and the Arab region at large and it is only superfluous to say that the Kingdom has become a model for relations with regional powers and achieving mutual interests. However, it hasn’t hesitated in adopting the necessary stances towards some of them in order to safeguard regional security and stability.
Within this context, HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan, the Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense for Military Affairs, has announced the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s intention to develop the Peninsula Shield Force in the near future to become a permanent deterrent force comprised of the GCC states to protect the Gulf states and benefit from its current status and experience. All views have to be discussed, including whether it should be a rapid intervention force or a confrontation force, adding that the issue will be taken up as part of GCC talks.
HRH stressed the need for prudence in tackling current developments and Iran’s threats against the Gulf States, particularly as the Saudi policy is firm and clear concerning the protection of all regions of the Kingdom. He also referred to the need for acting under the umbrella of the GCC as well as the agreements and treaties that are binding on the GCC states. HRH said the Peninsula Shield Forces were established only for the protection of their territories, but we are striving to forge a security arrangement that protects the interests of all Middle Eastern countries. He said they include all that lies within the borders of Saudi Arabia and the GCC states, adding that it is being strongly defended. He also said the Arabian Gulf as a whole is included in global interests cover protected, in general, by the International Law.
In fact, the Saudi vision expressed by HRH is based on the fact that current regional and international developments and the change in the balance of powers mandate acquiring all forms of power and enhancing combat capabilities. The aim is to upgrade the preparedness of the Armed Forces with high accuracy and professionalism.
Major General, Dr. Dhafer Bin Ali Al-Shehri
A Special Mission
The Arabian Gulf’s regional stability is vital for global economic stability for the foreseeable future since the GCC states plus Iraq and Yemen possess 84% of the world’s proved oil reserves and one-third of the world’s proved natural gas reserves. In spite of that, the region was the scene of three wars within just a few years. It was also involved in several crises in which the Iranian neighbors were the common factor. From a strategic point of view, the Arab states should share interests and threats with neighboring countries and such neighborly relations should either create a source of threat or a source of security enhancement. Moreover, the Arab and non-Arab countries of the Middle East form together an strategic grouping of nations, i.e. there is a certain strategic, geographical pattern of relations between the two sides with the high likelihood that this pattern may change according to changes in relations of cooperation or conflict, and agreement or disagreement between the two sides in all spheres.
The Iranian threat in the region:
Iran poses the main threat to the Gulf States, as Tehran represents the gravest military and intelligence threat to these countries. All the GCC states and most of the vital economic and political centers litter the coastal line opposite to Iran. Also, Iran, the U.A.E. and the Sultanate of Oman are overlooking the vital oil lane in the Strait of Hormuz, while the islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb are under Iranian occupation since 1971. Also, Iran is calling on Qatar to slow down the rate of its utilization of the reserves of Al-Shamal field and Pars field, shared by the two countries. Iran has cautioned that it will resort to other means and methods to resolve the issue.
- The fact is that ever since the arrival of the Khomeini revolution in Iran and the religious scholars’ assumption of power and control over life affairs in a rich and sprawling country like Iran, its leaders, regardless of their ranks or responsibilities, have been dreaming of hegemony. They are entertaining the hope of pursuing Da'wa message and revolution by adopting ideological and war concepts rather than dealing with reality and adopting the concept of state, development and international relations.
- The world has expressed optimism towards the governments of Rafsanjani and Khatami when they began to promote Iran as a responsible state within the international community and its relations improved with its neighbors, particularly the Gulf States. Then Iran backtracked and began to act like a permanent reckless state rather than a modern state with relations and obligations. The religious men backslided to the concept of remodeling the world in a way compatible with Iran’s political ideology.
- They only resort to the language of the state, diplomacy and norms when that is suitable for them. However, on other instances the real voice emerges to espouse the language of threats and warnings.
- The established fact is that Iran’s strategy to attain the role of a superpower in the region (subsequently influencing developments and pulling the strings) is no longer a mere hypothesis. In fact, it has become a policy practiced by different means and tools. It was distinctly evident in Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and later in Saudi Arabia, using the Huthi insurgents. Finally, Bahrain has seen the continuation of Iran’s infiltration strategy in the region, in tandem with cultural infiltration through the project for exporting the revolution and Iran’s lavish payments to win media allegiance.
- Bahrain has been a salient landmark in this program, evident in irresponsible statements claiming Iran’s right to annex the Kingdom of Bahrain and inciting the staging of coups and anarchy. This has prompted the Kingdom of Bahrain to request the assistance of the peninsula shield forces.
Further afield, the Iranian military threat against the Gulf states is exemplified in the following:
a. Missile threat: due to the weakness of its air force, Iran is expanding its ballistic missiles arsenal, gradually and systematically. The efforts include increasing the range of its missiles and improving their accuracy and destructive force as well as rendering them less detectable.
b. Naval threat: for various reasons, including the weakness of the Iranian navy, Iran has preferred to purchase and build a large number of speedy military vessels. Converting civilian ships to military purposes, some of them were armed with anti-ship missiles while others were supplied with sea mines. It also has sea-sea missiles launched from boats deployed in the Gulf and along the Iranian coast. This is in addition to its ability to use sea mines to hamper shipping movements in the Gulf.
The Peninsula Shield and the Shift in the GCC Bloc's Strategic Mentality:
In response to these intentions, the six GCC states have taken concrete steps at the level of security cooperation, beginning with the signing of the joint Gulf defense agreement at Manama summit on December 31, 2000. It has also provided for setting up a higher military committee. This is in addition to two other military committees charged with overseeing the above-mentioned projects.
The agreement also called for setting up an early warning system to detect missiles launched by Iraq or Iran as well as a unified communications system linking the command and control centers, communications and intelligence of GCC armed forces. The aim is to reenergize the defense strategy, based on the peninsula shield forces. It also stipulated the commencement of the collective early warning project in 2001 as well as the establishment of a joint defense supreme council. It also called for guiding the armed forces operational procedures and conducting joint military maneuvers and drills.
A closer look at regional developments over the past few months reveals a shift in the GCC states’ strategic thinking indicating that they have decided to take the initiative to bolster their security and deepen corporation. This was due to radical changes at the national, regional and global levels since the beginning of the 21st century, imposing serious new changes. Meanwhile, the GCC states should live up to these changes since the security of any state or group of states is the responsibility of their peoples in the first place. Article (51) of the UN charter states that any state is entitled to take measures to defend its territories if subjected to aggression or a threat of aggression, within an individual or collective framework, until the U.N takes measures to preserve international security and stability. And this is exactly what the GCC states are doing.
The Peninsula Shield and Developments in Bahrain:
The recent developments in Bahrain have focused attention on the power sources of the GCC states as well as on the direct threat sources. This was evident in the movement of the Peninsula Shield Forceto Bahrain and the ensuing reactions.
First: it has distinctly revealed for the first time that there is a joint Gulf thinking as regards Gulf States security. It also showed that there is a force- however nascent – that could play an important role, particularly in the event of a threat or possible threat against a GCC state.
Second: the rapid movement of the force from its base in Saudi Arabia to Bahrain as part of a decision taken by the GCC leaders has taken friends and foes alike by surprise, raising eyebrows as they couldn’t comprehend its significance and the nature of the role of the Peninsula Shield force.
The mission of this force was distinct and noble, beyond any skepticism. It was a participation in the defense of the Kingdom of Bahrain against any foreign threat. The force has not interfered in the domestic affairs of Bahrain. It was only protecting strategic facilities and important industrial and economic sites. This is in addition to protecting Bahrain’s borders against any foreign threat.
Iran- and the quarters influenced by it- produced only three arguments to criticize the Peninsula Shield force:
First: the force was used to suppress the Bahraini people: this is a naive allegation as the force that came to Bahrain did not take part in any operations or deal with the citizens in Bahrain. Its mission was only to protect strategic facilities under threat during the recent events.
Second: the force’s mission is defensive and there is no foreign threat against Bahrain: this argument is also inaccurate as Bahrain was actually subjected to an Iranian threat evident in statements by Iranian leaders, including the supreme guide of the revolution, Iran's president, the foreign minister, the defense minister, the commander of the revolutionary guards as well as the speaker of the Shoura council, Iran’s ambassador to Doha and its former ambassador to Bahrain. All these statements are fraught with threats that Iran will not stand idle with regard to developments in Bahrain, described as “massacres” in the Iranian foreign minister’s letter to the UN Secretary General as well as in statements by other Iranian officials.
Third: the claim that the Peninsula Shield Forceis a Saudi force of invasion, demanding its withdrawal. Again, this is the weakest of all three arguments because the Peninsula Shield Forceis a joint force involving the six GCC states and it was invited by a GCC member state. Also, the force came to Bahrain on the strength of three decades old agreements among the GCC states.
The Following Facts Need to be Stressed:
First: the Peninsula Shield Forceis a defensive force of amity and peace, mounting no aggression against anyone, though it is capable of repelling any threat whether it comes by sea, air or otherwise. It also enjoys the full backing of all the armed forces of the GCC states in any eventuality.
Second: the misleading enemy media and the torrent of lies about the role of this force raised the morale of its personnel, giving them added confidence in the wise political leaders of the GCC states who followed the right course of action. The role of this force is limited and clear in this assignment, governed by agreements and methodologies sans any improvisation. Its mission involves joining Bahrain’s Defense Force to protect Bahrain’s borders against any aggression.
Third: the wise defensive policies of the GCC states, coupled with refraining from any aggression outside their borders, their keenness on capability rather than mere numbers and belief in their mission have totally destroyed the armies that were previously involved in battles in the Gulf, though they were backed by hundreds of thousands of tanks, that were turned to piles of rubble.
Fourth: before moving, the Peninsula Shield Force performed the Gulf commander drill (1) at the command center’s range in Hafr Al-Batten last Muharam. The scenario focused on hypothetical foreign threats to be repelled by the joint Peninsula Shield Force. The drill has greatly enhanced the Force’s preparedness. It also had a positive impact on the planning abilities and coordination between the commands and their units.
Fifth: there are always meetings scheduled by the GCC supreme council and approved by Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC Leaders. These include the military cooperation and joint defense meetings, producing planned steps for the development of the Peninsula Shield Force and the GCC states’ forces in general.
Sixth: the participating units represent the command of the Peninsula Shield Force comprised of all the states with all their weapons, munitions and equipment. Units are selected according to the need and distance: it is not compatible with sound planning to request a unit from a far distance while you have a nearby unit with the same capabilities and readiness.
The Future of the Peninsula Shield:
The security threats of the 21st century are of concern to the world in its entirety. This is due to the rapid electronic advances and the appearance of new players with neither specific commands nor specific locations. Moreover, they have a changing ideology, moving territory and changing commands. The new players are the result of new electronic spaces, using twitter, facebook and others, not to mention the virus war. Therefore, the military cooperation among the GCC states is progressing according to planned programs to upgrade the joint military abilities, including the (Peninsula Shield). The GCC states are striving to continuously develop the Peninsula Shield according to the following:
- The joint military force: the GCC states have declared late in 2009 their intention to establish a rapid military intervention force, headquartered in Riyadh, though they shall continue to be based in their original countries until they are recalled in emergency.
- Command and control: in 2001 a surveillance and detection system was introduced allowing GCC states to keep their air space under surveillance. At the same time it enables them to better coordinate their defense measures. It is linked to the air defense systems of these states to create a unified air space image. Both the Arabic and the English languages are used in the system.
- The joint defense agreement: in 2000, the Gulf leaders agreed to further increase the security cooperation. They signed a joint defense agreement committing the member states to consider any attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.
- Meetings of the higher military committee of the GCC chiefs of staff should focus on the development of the Peninsula Shield:
In October, 2010, the 8th meeting of the military committee of the GCC chiefs of staff, in Kuwait, discussed the progress of military cooperation and joint defense among the GCC states as well as the challenges facing the group. Reviewing the operational and training preparedness attained by the joint Peninsula Shield Force, the committee expressed satisfaction in this regard. In September 2011, a meeting was held, in Abu Dhabi, to discuss the development of the joint Peninsula Shield Force and the possibility of forming a joint command. Such activities indicate that a joint GCC command is strategically important for the time being and the future, enabling GCC states to consolidate efforts and understandings, upgrade potentials and ensure the concept of social security. It also bolsters the defense ability to repel threats and contributes to developing the concept of balanced rapid deterrence.
All parties have spared no effort to back constructive initiatives and devote all potentials for its success. The meeting discussed all these points with a view to reaching a unified vision on the possibility of establishing the joint command.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Plans To Develop the Peninsula Shield Force:
The Saudi policy is aimed at reenergizing joint Gulf action and unifying Arab and Gulf stances. This is based on its Arab, Islamic principles and its historic responsibilities as well as its political, economic, geographical and spiritual weight. Moreover, the Kingdom, since its founding, has adopted a clear attitude, distancing itself from sensitivities or entering into rivalries over the leadership of the Nation. At the same time the Kingdom spared no effort to enhance Arab reconciliation and resolve differences through dialogue and openness. This is in addition to political backing and continuous financial support for Arab causes throughout the last few decades. These endeavors have succeeded in avoiding the deterioration of joint Arab action on many occasions, making the Kingdom the preferred destination for Arab and Muslim leaders at times of crises. The Saudi foreign policy is highly appreciated in the Gulf and the Arab region at large and it is only superfluous to say that the Kingdom has become a model for relations with regional powers and achieving mutual interests. However, it hasn’t hesitated in adopting the necessary stances towards some of them in order to safeguard regional security and stability.
Within this context, HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan, the Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense for Military Affairs, has announced the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s intention to develop the Peninsula Shield Force in the near future to become a permanent deterrent force comprised of the GCC states to protect the Gulf states and benefit from its current status and experience. All views have to be discussed, including whether it should be a rapid intervention force or a confrontation force, adding that the issue will be taken up as part of GCC talks.
HRH stressed the need for prudence in tackling current developments and Iran’s threats against the Gulf States, particularly as the Saudi policy is firm and clear concerning the protection of all regions of the Kingdom. He also referred to the need for acting under the umbrella of the GCC as well as the agreements and treaties that are binding on the GCC states. HRH said the Peninsula Shield Forces were established only for the protection of their territories, but we are striving to forge a security arrangement that protects the interests of all Middle Eastern countries. He said they include all that lies within the borders of Saudi Arabia and the GCC states, adding that it is being strongly defended. He also said the Arabian Gulf as a whole is included in global interests cover protected, in general, by the International Law.
In fact, the Saudi vision expressed by HRH is based on the fact that current regional and international developments and the change in the balance of powers mandate acquiring all forms of power and enhancing combat capabilities. The aim is to upgrade the preparedness of the Armed Forces with high accuracy and professionalism.
Major General, Dr. Dhafer Bin Ali Al-Shehri
A Special Mission
