The Gulf Stance!
It was imperative to read the escalating scene between us and Iran in depth. Our Gulf position should have been, and must remain, clear—without posturing, without exhausting rhetoric, and without raising the levels of tension and conflict. It is not important who is stronger than whom, nor is it necessary for us to declare that we can confront Iran’s blatant aggression against our countries with this or that measure. What matters is that we, as an Arab Gulf, maintain a unified and firm stance, and that we be a genuine party in any negotiations among the warring states in the region. This is because we remain, and will continue to be, a difficult number in this region. It is unacceptable and unjust for “quasi-peace” negotiations to take place near us while we are excluded from them. It is equally unacceptable for our countries to be targets of Iran’s culpable aggression, just like the states fighting it, while we sit as spectators, waiting for others to determine our fate on our behalf, as if we were states without will, opinion, decision, position, or sovereignty.
The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states must first agree on a unified position, speaking with one voice, under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The GCC states must coordinate with Arab countries possessing regional depth and influence, so that the world perceives us as a major nation capable of defending itself to the last drop of blood and the last piece of ammunition. Despite our firm position—which we have repeatedly affirmed—based on respect for good neighborliness and our pursuit of peace with Iran, we must simultaneously emphasize our ability to defend every inch of our territory, every drop of our water, and every expanse of our airspace. It must be clear to all that we do not need others to defend us; our nation is strong through its people, its history, and its just, legitimate, and lawful right to self-defense.
Therefore, following the intermittent war raging on our lands and in our skies, and after the blatant aggression launched by a neighboring Muslim state—a scenario we never wished to see unfold—we are obligated to stand as one united front in our region. Our political decision must be singular, our military stance clearly defined, and our vision regarding just and lasting peace unambiguous. From this standpoint, we can sit at a single negotiation table with everyone, not because we are a party to the war, but because we are an inseparable part of a pivotal issue whose effects will remain vivid in minds and whose repercussions will be fixed in decision-making and in the establishment of peace.
Thus, no one should ignore us. No one should sit alone in any country and negotiate as if we are zero in the equation, or a marginal figure in the circle of conflict. We must explicitly declare that there should be no negotiations to resolve the crisis related to the Strait of Hormuz without us being a party to them. Nor should there be talks and contacts between the East and the West while ignoring us, as if we were states incapable of determining our own destinies. Between what is expected and what is rejected lie sharp angles of divergence and polarizations at all levels. There is a Gulf perspective, a decisive regional position, and a stance toward everything that occurs and is plotted against our homelands and resources, which are constantly thrown into jeopardy and threatened whenever Iran clashes with Israel or with the United States of America.
Let it be clear and evident that these disputes and that war were none of our concern; we support those who support us and oppose those who oppose us. This is our position and our message to the entire world, without distortion or interpretation. As for those opinions that speak of our military strength, our formidable armies, or our vast human resources, it would be better for the proponents of such boastful rhetoric to remain silent. More importantly, we must reassert our position based on reason, logic, justice, and fairness, rather than from the standpoint of resonant slogans, imaginary analyses, or arbitrary positions. We are all responsible, and each leader is responsible for their people. We must always be ready and prepared to face our destiny ourselves, and our challenges, with unshakable faith, unfailing insight, and undimmed responsibility.
