Doha: The Gulf area is confronting an unprecedented safety disaster after Israel’s strike on Doha, an escalation that adopted Iran’s assault on U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on June 23, 2025. For many years, rich Gulf monarchies prided themselves on stability, projecting pictures of booming economies, glittering skylines and insulated security. That sense of safety is now beneath pressure because the battle in Gaza creeps nearer to their borders.
Qatar’s management has signalled that the response to Israel’s motion could be collective. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani informed CNN that consultations have been underway with regional companions and {that a} determination would doubtless be introduced on the Arab and Islamic summit in Doha over the weekend.
Essentially the most seen signal of coordination got here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan flew to Doha inside a day of the assault, bringing a big delegation. Qatar was the primary cease in a Gulf tour that additionally took him to Bahrain and Oman. Quickly after, the UAE overseas ministry summoned an Israeli diplomat, denouncing the strike as a blatant and cowardly act.
Regional analysts stated Gulf states are actually weighing their restricted choices. Bader Al-Saif of Kuwait College highlighted that the governments see an pressing must act collectively, warning that inaction may make different Gulf capitals weak.
Diplomatic Fronts
Observers stated the UAE would possibly take into account downgrading diplomatic ties with Israel or scaling again participation within the Abraham Accords, the normalisation pact that had been central to Washington’s Center East coverage beneath Donald Trump. Emirati officers had already voiced discontent earlier than the strike on Doha, warning that any Israeli transfer to annex components of the West Financial institution would cross a purple line and undermine the spirit of the accords.
Qatar is predicted to push authorized measures as effectively. Sheikh Mohammed indicated that Doha’s response would come with motion beneath worldwide legislation. This week, Qatar succeeded in rallying the UN Safety Council to difficulty a unanimous condemnation of the Israeli strike.
Hasan Alhasan of the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research in Bahrain stated Gulf governments had to this point prevented taking part in important roles in worldwide authorized efforts in opposition to Israel, however this might change in the event that they select to take part collectively.
Analysts additionally prompt that Qatar may rethink its position because the area’s predominant mediator between Washington and its adversaries.
Safety Calculations
Regardless of frequent political disputes amongst themselves, Gulf states stay tied by longstanding mutual protection treaties. Abdulaziz Sager of the Gulf Analysis Middle argued that the second could have come to activate the Peninsula Defend Drive, the joint protection pact first drawn up within the Eighties.
The analysts added that what had to this point remained theoretical may now evolve into sensible steps, together with the creation of a unified Gulf command, built-in air and missile defenses and larger funding in indigenous capabilities.
Most Gulf militaries stay reliant on American methods and bases. There’s rising unease over what some view as U.S. failures to completely assure regional safety. The analysts stated this might push Gulf capitals into urgent the Trump administration for clearer protection commitments, quite than arms gross sales alone.
Nonetheless, they cautioned that inside rivalries may hinder consensus. Alhasan emphasised that Gulf leaders stay depending on Washington, whose coverage has lengthy prioritised sustaining Israel’s navy edge.
Financial Strain
The Gulf’s huge oil and gasoline wealth offers it a robust instrument. The analysts stated sovereign wealth funds may very well be used to limit funding hyperlinks with Israel or boycott companies with main Israeli stakes.
Alhasan defined that coordinated monetary stress may carry weight globally.
The area’s rulers have additionally tied huge investments to their safety atmosphere. Throughout Trump’s first overseas journey of his second time period, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar collectively pledged round three trillion {dollars} for the U.S. financial system over the approaching decade.
Al-Saif identified that such investments assume stability within the Gulf. If insecurity deepens, the cash may very well be redirected towards protection spending or various markets.