US alliances are exposing partner nations to conflict without giving them control over decisions. From the Gulf to Australia, the risks of strategic dependence are becoming clearer.

Until a month ago the gulf states of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia may have felt that hosting US military bases, made them safer.

But they’ve now had a rude awakening. These bases simply make them a target.

Nobody should be surprised by the Iranian strike on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base which reportedly destroyed a $270 million Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS surveillance aircraft, damaged multiple refuelling aircraft and injured a dozen American troops.

Once attacked by the US, how could Iran ignore the air base which hosts an array of aircraft supporting US operations against Iran.

Similarly, Qatar hosts Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the region and the forward headquarters for US Central Command. And the UAE is home to the Al-Dhafra airbase which hosts F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, surveillance planes, drones and airborne warning and control systems.

There was no US consultation with Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia before Israel and the US launched their attack on Iran which would inevitably place these states in a retaliatory firing line.

Like the gulf states, Australia hosts US facilities and under the AUKUS agreement we are committed to hand over billions of dollars to fund the construction of US shipyards to bolster production of US nuclear-powered submarines.

No doubt the US President Donald Trump views us – like the Gulf states – as a US client state. This unpleasant truth was revealed most dramatically last week with Trump’s most derogatory comment about Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin........

© Pearls and Irritations