Rethinking Gulf security through regional resilience
In May 2025, during a historic visit to the Middle East, US President Donald Trump commended regional leaders in an unprecedented manner, stating, “The birth of a modern Middle East has been brought by the people of the region themselves, the people that are right here, the people that have lived here all their lives, developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions and charting your own destinies in your own way.”
Despite this growth, which President Trump called an indigenous success, a persistent challenge remains.
Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar heavily rely on external security guarantees. However, these guarantees have not prevented adversaries from attacking, which was their primary strategic goal.
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Muhammad Rizwan & Fatima Saif Khan