Israel-Iran confrontation forces Gulf powers to choose sides
DUBAI—Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Persian Gulf states have tried to avoid taking a position on America’s geopolitical rivalries in recent years, staying neutral in the Ukraine war and building ties with China. With Israel and Iran in open conflict, they might be forced to choose a side. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates struggled to stay on the sidelines when it became clear last week that Iran would attack Israel in retaliation for a strike in Syria that killed senior Iranian military officers.
The Saudis and Emiratis shared intelligence that contributed to an overwhelmingly successful defensive response to a sprawling Iranian air attack, said Arab officials. However, they stopped short of giving Washington everything it wanted, denying the U.S. and Israel use of their airspace to intercept missiles and drones, the officials said.
The confrontation showed both countries how difficult it is going to be to keep striking a careful balance between their chief Middle East rival, Iran; their most important security partner, the U.S.; and Israel, a powerful military that the Saudis and Emiratis have grown closer to in recent years but that they both criticize harshly over its conduct in its war in Gaza. If the Israel-Iran conflict escalates and draws in the U.S., the Gulf Arab states would likely have a stark choice: allow American forces to launch attacks from bases in their countries and risk Iranian retaliation, or try to appease Iran and stay on the sidelines as they have largely done since the Oct. 7 attacks plunged the Middle East into turmoil.
Since Saturday’s attack, the U.A.E. has called for restraint and the need to achieve stability through diplomatic channels. “The region should avoid conflict at all
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