The Iran war and its effects on the future of US-GCC cooperation

The escalation of the conflict around Iran is significantly affecting the strategic, economic, and military relations between the Gulf states and the United States.

The US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February 2026 led to Iran’s retaliatory attack on the US military bases and assets in most of the GCC.

Israel’s previous attack on Iran, while causing more coordination and selling of weapons to allies and maintaining the security of the US and most of the GCC, also revived efforts to reduce dependence on the West.

According to some in the GCC, the defense priorities of the United States of America have so far been focused on its defense systems to support Israel and paying less or no attention to the defense of the GCC and prioritizing the support of Tel Aviv.

In a situation where American bases located in the region have become the targets of Iran’s retaliatory attacks, the expectation of the GCC governments and hosts of foreign bases was to receive full support. Therefore, the bases practically have a one-way function for the benefit of America and Israel and can be changed in the future.

In this situation, some existing security alliances may collapse.  By reorganizing geopolitics, the region will enter a new security order based on new alliances and different competitions.

Previously, US President Donald Trump completed his trip to the Middle East in May 2025 and expanded cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates by signing investment agreements worth more than 2 trillion dollars. These comprehensive agreements included areas such as the defense industry, aviation, and the development of artificial intelligence technologies.

But in the new conditions, the movement of the war towards an erosive and long-term........

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