The study said the lion's share of states in the Gulf region have a
foreign military presence, Middle East Newsline reported. Out of 21 countries in and around the Gulf, three
do not have any foreign military presence. In the remaining 18, the United
States has a military presence in 13 countries; Britain has a presence in
nine states and other unidentified powers deployed forces in nine countries.
"The intensification of the U.S. military presence in the Gulf has put
pressure on GCC member countries to 'cooperate' by offering extended
facilities to U.S. military components, access rights, over-flying rights
and support for naval visits," the study said.
The book published by the Emirates Centre focuses on the U.S. military
presence. The study envisioned that the U.S. and Western presence in GCC and
other regional states would remain.
"This is an inescapable reality," the study said.
The study cited Iran as a leading threat to the GCC. One threat was that
Shi'ites would foment a revolt in GCC states with a large Shi'ite community.
"No country in the region or outside should foster the illusion that
undermining Iranian ambitions, or even changing the political regime in
Iran, will solve the security problems of the Gulf," the study said.
