Expert: America Is Not an Ally, Israel Is the Greatest Threat to the Gulf
Dr. Khalil Al-Anani stated that the Israeli bombing of the Qatari capital, Doha, represents a major betrayal by the United States, which maintains military forces in Qatar and other GCC States
USA, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Professor of Political Science and International Relations Dr. Khalil Al-Anani stated that the Israeli bombing of the Qatari capital, Doha, represents a “major betrayal” by the United States, which maintains military forces in Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
Al-Anani added that what he described as the “great American betrayal” toward Qatar brings to mind similar incidents witnessed in Saudi Arabia and the UAE during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, stressing that what happened constitutes a strategic, political, security, and military threat to the countries of the region.
Last Tuesday, Israeli warplanes bombed a residential complex in the Al-Qatifa neighborhood of Doha, targeting the leadership of Hamas hosted by Qatar, leading to the martyrdom of five Palestinians and one Qatari security officer.
America Is Not an Ally
The professor of international relations at American universities continued: “What applies to Qatar applies to the entire Arabian Gulf, and the message is clear: no one will protect you. America is not an ally to anyone, but merely a broker in the region.”
He noted that Gulf states have spent billions of dollars on investments in America, on think tanks, and on figures close to decision-making circles in Washington without gaining real protection or guarantees in return.
In a recorded episode on his online channel Ilm Nafi’, he asked: “What has the Gulf gained from this relationship and all these agreements?”
Answering: “The GCC is at a critical juncture to reconsider its relationship with Washington, which exploits their money and political standing.”
Israel: The Real Danger
On another front, Al-Anani, an associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, stressed that the Israeli bombing of Doha proves that Israel is the greatest threat to the Arab region, despite its continuous attempts for years to market the so-called “Iranian threat” in the Gulf and Arab consciousness.
He explained that Tel Aviv does not merely seek normalization or cooperation agreements, but rather wants “submissive states” to its projects and ambitions, which makes it directly threaten Turkey, Egypt, and other countries.
He pointed out that Israel’s military superiority in the region makes it more dangerous, calling on Gulf states to invest their wealth and expertise domestically, to develop an Arab military industry, and to strengthen regional alliances with Turkey, China, or Russia.
No Protection Treaties
Regarding the nature of relations between Washington and the Gulf states, Al-Anani indicated that American military intervention began with the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, when President Jimmy Carter’s administration announced the “Carter Doctrine” in 1980, which stipulated the use of military force to protect American interests in the Gulf.
He explained that this doctrine marked the beginning of the shift, leading to the establishment of rapid deployment forces and then the US Central Command in 1983, which managed operations in the Gulf and later expanded its role with the First and Second Gulf Wars.
However, despite this heavy military presence, Al-Anani affirmed that there are no mutual defense treaties between Washington and the Gulf states similar to Article 5 of the NATO Charter, stressing that the current agreements are limited to “security and military cooperation” aimed at protecting American interests in the region.
According to his estimates, dozens of American bases and military sites are deployed across the Arabian Gulf, Syria, and Jordan, hosting between 40,000 and 50,000 US soldiers permanently. (PW)