Time to ask US to vacate military bases in Arabian Peninsula
For decades,
the security architecture of the Persian Gulf has revolved around American
military presence. Bases across Arab Emirates were meant to deter threats,
particularly from Iran. Yet recent developments suggest this framework is far
less reliable than assumed.
Strategic
installations in the region have repeatedly faced missile and drone threats.
Despite hosting advanced defense systems, these states remain vulnerable. This
raises a fundamental concern: if such an extensive foreign military presence
cannot ensure security, what purpose does it serve?
Washington’s
singular focus on Iran has also narrowed the strategic outlook of its regional
partners. While Iran pursues an assertive policy, reducing the region’s
complexities to one adversary has allowed deeper structural weaknesses to
persist.
The
situation in the Strait of Hormuz further highlights this paradox. Despite
heavy militarization, this critical corridor remains vulnerable, exposing the
limits of externally driven security arrangements.
At the same
time, emerging narratives—whether verified or not—have fueled a growing trust
deficit. Questions around the origin of attacks and the effectiveness of
defense commitments have intensified doubts about the current security model.
Against this
backdrop, a strategic shift is imperative. Arab states must move beyond
dependency and reassess their reliance on external powers, while opening
channels of engagement with regional actors, including Iran.
The
conclusion is increasingly unavoidable: Arab Emirates must begin a phased
recalibration of their security framework—one that could ultimately require
asking the United States to vacate its military bases.
Such a move
would reflect not hostility, but strategic maturity.
