The Gulf must build security that can outlast this war

What the report says

In an Al Jazeera opinion piece published on 13 November 2026, Rashid Al-Mohanadi argues that the Gulf states should use the current regional war as a prompt to build a more durable security system. He points to a recent decision by Gulf defence ministers, announced on 10 November, to create a forward command in Kuwait under the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Unified Military Command, with forces to be assigned to it. In his view, that step reflects growing willingness among Gulf states to take on more collective responsibility for their own defence.

The article says the security challenge is broader than any single adversary. It cites Iranian attacks on Gulf states during the war and Israel’s strike on Qatar in September 2025, while also noting threats from militias, terrorism, cyberattacks, maritime disruption and state instability. Al-Mohanadi argues that no one alliance can address all of those risks, and instead calls for a “layered and networked” system that connects national forces, GCC cooperation, the United States, and newer arrangements involving countries such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia.

He highlights examples including a regional air and missile defence coordination cell at Al Udeid and recent defence cooperation deals signed in Mecca and under the Badr memorandum. The piece says these frameworks should be linked so information, equipment and expertise can move more effectively between them. It also stresses the importance of protecting energy, water, ports and communications infrastructure, while maintaining diplomatic channels with Iran to reduce the risk of further escalation.