United States Policy in the Gulf Region.

Abstract

The Gulf region is an area of vital interest to the United States (US). Its interests lie in the areas of ensuring the continued flow of oil and guaranteeing the security of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This paper investigates to what extent the US can rely on Saudi Arabia to take a major role in ensuring its own defense and stability of the Gulf region. The US political strategy of dual containment and military strategy of prepositioned equipment and force projection are examined as well. Is the present US approach to the Gulf correct? The paper concludes that security in the Gulf can best be ensured by an enhanced US presence, such as permanent stationing of a heavy division, as the preeminent force in the region. The study recommends a change of US policy for the region by abandoning dual containment in favor of active engagement with Iraq and Iran.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 1996
Accession Number
ADA309376

Entities

People

  • John O. Blakeney

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Arabia
  • Department Of State
  • Foreign Policy
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Middle East
  • National Security
  • Persian Gulf
  • Political Systems
  • Regional Security
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United States
  • United States Central Command
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.