'Gulf Can Fight as One'

GCC forces capable of defending the region through unified response, says Al Assoomi

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

"The goal here is not confrontation,

but rather imposing a reality that

forces the other party to respect the

principles of good neighbourliness."

                                  - Adel Al Assoomi

                                    Shura Council member 

Gulf states can fight as one force and defend themselves without outside help, Shura Council member Adel Al Assoomi said, as the Bahrain Shield drill sent a stark warning to any power seeking to test the region.

He said the war games, held as strain grows across the Arabian Gulf, showed that Bahrain and its neighbours had both the will and the means to meet any attack.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s presence, alongside forces from other Gulf Co-operation Council states, gave the drill added weight.

‘Bahrain and the Gulf countries possess the will and the ability to protect themselves by themselves,’ Mr Al Assoomi said.

The exercise showed that Gulf military ties had moved past basic co-ordination, he added. The six states now work under one combat doctrine, with a joint command able to direct forces across the region.

‘The GCC has moved beyond the stage of co-ordination to the stage of operational integration,’ he said.

Mr Al Assoomi said Bahrain Shield put the GCC’s pledge of common defence into practice. Under Article 4 of the GCC Charter, an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.

‘The Bahrain Shield exercise is a practical translation of the principle of collective security,’ he said.

Any aggressor, he added, would face one Gulf front and a rapid shared response.

Mr Al Assoomi said His Majesty the King’s remarks on Iran’s conduct had helped drive a shift in Gulf defence plans.

The old focus on guarding borders was giving way to warfare across land, sea, air, space and cyber systems. The aim was to build full deterrence and deny an enemy room to strike.

Yet he said the Gulf did not seek war.

‘The goal here is not confrontation, but rather imposing a reality that forces the other party to respect the principles of good neighbourliness,’ he said.

Military strength would run alongside political and diplomatic work, giving Gulf leaders greater weight in talks while cutting the risk of attack.

‘Power here is a tool for peace-making,’ Mr Al Assoomi said.

He added that the GCC stood as one bloc, with its leaders agreed on how to ward off threats.

Gulf citizens, he said, had deep trust in their rulers and armed forces, while the region was growing stronger and better able to withstand pressure.