Gulf widens between US and sheikhdoms

Amid increasing tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program, the administration of US President George W Bush is courting the Gulf monarchies with the same proposal it offered them 15 years ago after the first Gulf War – purchase US weapons worth billions, and Washington will protect you against your Persian nemesis.

But today, the Arab monarchies are less than enthusiastic about putting their security solely in the hands of the United States. With China’s dependence on Gulf energy increasing and with the inevitable rise of Iran, the Arabs are eyeing other alternatives.

The Arabs believe that the geopolitical significance of the Gulf region will increase substantially over the next decades as the energy demands of China and India skyrocket. The region is expected to supply 32% of the world’s oil by 2025, compared with 26% today. As the Asian economies become increasingly dependent on Gulf oil, China, Japan and India will develop a stake in Gulf security and an interest in protecting their energy supply lines, the reasoning goes.

Asia Times