U.S. Defense Deals Preserve Key Relationships in the Persian Gulf

Analysis

Despite significant differences that have emerged recently between the United States and its Gulf Cooperation Council allies over Middle East policy, significant military and overall defense cooperation continues. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Oct. 15 that it had notified Congress of a possible military equipment deal with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Under the agreement, various munitions and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support would be provided to Riyadh for an estimated $6.8 billion and to Abu Dhabi for $4 billion. The sale, consisting of state-of-the-art weaponry and equipment in the U.S. arsenal, further deepens the already strong military and industrial relationship between the United States and its allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Recent events in the Middle East have diminished the overall political relationship between the two sides. U.S. attempts at a negotiated solution with Iran as well as the U.S.-Russian deal on Syria have upset Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.

In light of these differences, the United States is increasingly relying on military and defense cooperation as the primary vehicle to maintain a close relationship with its Gulf allies. The recent string of large defense contracts has certainly given a major boost to the U.S. defense industry at a time of sequestration and tight budgets, but the deals also bind the United States closer to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, since the agreements require U.S. contractors to be deployed to the Gulf and maintenance personnel and aircrew to come to the United States for training, they help to maintain a constant flow of information and exchanges.

The Gulf Cooperation Council states also believe that they stand to benefit greatly from cooperation. Strategically, these Gulf countries, despite -- or perhaps because of -- their extensive energy resources, have historically needed a powerful benefactor to protect them from larger and more populous regional powers. This dynamic has previously been seen in Iraq and more recently in Iran.

Furthermore, the types of weapons contained in the contracts, while relatively expensive, continue a trend in which the United States has sold highly sophisticated and effective weaponry to the Gulf Cooperation Council despite occasionally strong Israeli concerns. For instance, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have benefited from access to the F-15 Eagle strike fighter and the F-16 Desert Falcon, respectively. The recently announced deal will enable both countries to equip their aircraft with some of the latest air-launched cruise missiles, satellite-guided bombs, communications equipment and data link pods, among other things.

Military and defense cooperation is the one constant that Washington has used to maintain relations with -- and in the case of Egypt, occasionally pressure -- its Middle East allies. At a time of diverging interests, when the United States is increasingly seeking a resolution with Iran despite its allies' concerns, such cooperation will be ever more important.

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