From Saudi to Kuwait, how US-Iran war is forcing Gulf states to rethink their security strategies

After nearly two weeks of 13 consecutive waves of US strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation against targets in Gulf Arab states, both sides ceased their attacks by July 25. US CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper reportedly recommended halting the US bombardment — which was focused on degrading Iran’s capabilities to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — as it had reached “the limit of its effectiveness”. The region is now coming up with strategies to deal with this conflict’s fallout. Kuwait ratified a June 2023 Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Pakistan on July 26 for a five-year period, while Qatar committed to deepening its security cooperation with Pakistan during bilateral talks in Doha the following day. Meanwhile, the US-Iran war has also reignited the war between the