When geography is destiny, Gulf states must diversify their defence, expert says in Dalian

The Gulf states should prioritise diverse defences and domestic capability-building to hedge against uncertain US commitments and volatility in the Middle East, according to an expert at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Dalian in northeastern China this week.Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, said on Wednesday that regional governments remained deeply reliant on the United States for security but were increasingly uneasy about Washington’s long-term strategy.Despite US President Donald Trump’s pledge during a visit to the region in May last year that Washington would not pursue regime change, the administration instead adopted a “regime change-light strategy” that proved destabilising, according to Vakil.The 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, was held at the Dalian International Conference Centre this week and featured the theme “Innovating at Scale”. Photo: XinhuaVakil said that while the region faced a “very uncomfortable moment” amid uncertain US policy and a more pragmatic yet still unpredictable Iran, the Gulf states had to help shape the outcome of this war as well, and not just outsource it to the Trump administration.