The Gulf Cooperation Council's Peninsular Shield Force
Abstract
In response to the escalation by both participants during the Iran-Iraq war, the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) enjoined to conduct joint military exercises. As the war increased in intensity, a standing coalition laud force, the Peninsula Shield Force (PSF), was created. The PSF is comprised of infantry, armor, artillery, and combat support elements from each of the GCC countries. Tasked with the defense the GCC nation-states, it has amassed a less than spectacular record of performance daring several Arabian Gulf crisis, most notably during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Political limitations have been the greatest hindrance to the Peninsula Shield Force's development. As a result, the Peninsula Shield Force faces challenges in material readiness, combat system and combat support interoperability, and appropriate manning. Despite its shortcomings the Peninsula Shield Force has achieved some success including the establishing of a permanent Headquarters staff, yearly exercises, and two deployments to Kuwait as a show of force during the Iran-Iraq war and in 1994 in response to an Iraqi troop buildup on the Iraq-Kuwait border. The Peninsula Shield Force must more fully develop its capabilities as a military force before it is able to unilaterally defend the Gulf Cooperation Council member-states' borders. Until then reliance on foreign intervention, namely from the United States, will continue to be required to support the Gulf Cooperation Council's security needs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 07, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA378521
Entities
People
- Glenn P. Kuffel Jr
Organizations
- Naval War College