ABU DHABI — The U.S. is advising the Gulf states in preparation for their largest
ever military exercise to answer Iran's growing strategic clout in the region.
Gulf Cooperation Council sources said the six Gulf Arab members would conduct an exercise by
the regional Peninsula Shield force over the next two months. They said the
exercise, hosted by Oman, would contain air, ground and naval components in
the Gulf region.
All six GCC states have agreed to participate in the exercise, GCC
sources said. They said the exercise, planned in coordination with the United States, was approved by GCC leaders in their
summit in Riyad on Dec. 10.
GCC member states have been increasingly concerned by Iran's emerging nuclear capability and the success of Hizbullah in its war with Israel.
"The exercise is designed to begin a serious effort at interoperability
and regional defense," a GCC source said. "We have been planning this
exercise carefully with our allies."
The source said Britain and the United States have been advising
Peninsula Shield on the forthcoming exercise. The six GCC militaries employ
mostly U.S. and British weapons platforms and also receive training from
London and Washington.
The exercise would take place in either late January or early February
2007, the Kuwaiti daily Al Rai Al Aam reported on Thursday. The newspaper
said the exercise would be the largest since Peninsula Shield was formed in
1984.
"The exercise would test the command capability of Peninsula Shield as
well as establish requirements to develop regional defense," the source
said.
Al Rai Al Aam said the GCC was mulling a recommendation to increase
Peninsula Shield to 100,000 troops by 2025. Last year, GCC leaders suspended
Peninsula Shield and combat troops were withdrawn from headquarters in the
Saudi town of Khafer Baaten.
Another GCC recommendation was the inclusion of Yemen in regional
defense. Yemen, the poorest country in the region, has long sought to enter
the GCC.