By Ayman Zakaria Desouki
The increased U.S. military presence in the Gulf raises questions about the reason behind it; does this growing presence aim at deterring Iran's raising power in the region, or is it part of US policy of rearranging its international leadership by closing the Gulf before the emerging powers, especially China and monopolizing the region with the economic and strategic important dimensions it represents as a gateway to re-establish international leadership?
American Military Presence in the Gulf:
The year 1990 witnessed a significant shift in the U.S. military presence in the Arabian Gulf, in two directions:
- Widening the scope of military facilities given to U.S. forces through building military bases, stations, ports, airports, and camps in the Gulf. These facilities include: the right to use airspace, visit the ports, using military airfields, advanced air transport and deploy operations, fuel and maintenance services, and storage of weapons, as well as joint military maneuvers.
- Increasing the number of military bases in the Gulf to reach up to five major bases. These bases are important because they constitute major semi-integrated centers that enjoy relative autonomy, and an overall ability to support fighting operations in air, land or sea, either through actually localizing in these fighting fields or making the base ready to deploy when needed.
The war on Iraq in 2003 came to add a new dimension to the American military presence, either with the military bases or the direct military presence on the ground.
According to sources, the distribution of U.S. military bases in the Gulf is as follows:
- In Bahrain: The military base Juffair, near Manama, is considered one of the most important military bases in the Gulf, as it comprises the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, and that of the Special Forces.
- In Kuwait: U.S. forces are stationed in almost most of Kuwait's main military sites: at the Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Doha Camp, the island of Failaka, Kuwait airport, and the port of Al Ahmadi. Moreover, the most important U.S. military bases are located in Ali Al Salem base, Orevjan Camp, where the major air and land forces are stationed as well as forces under the command of the U.S. military.
- In Qatar: The military base Aladeed is considered one of the most important U.S. military bases in the Gulf, especially after moving the headquarters from Florida to it the eve of the war on Iraq.
- In Saudi Arabia: There are some military facilities to various U.S. forces in Dammam, Hofuf, Al Khobar, Tabuk, Yanbu and Dhahran.
- In the Sultanate of Oman: Sultanate of Oman has become one of the most effective US military sites in the region, especially after the participation of American and British forces in it during the war against Afghanistan. Military facilities, granted to the United States, are in Qaboos Port, Salalah Port, and Seeb International Airport.
- In the UAE: U.S. forces have also various facilities in a number of sites in the UAE such as: Al-Thafera Airbase in Abu Dhabi and Al- Fujairah International Airport, and a number of seaports such as Zayed, Rashid, Jebel Ali, Dubai, and Al-Fujairah Ports. In Arab Emirates as well, there are an American military unit and some surveillance aircrafts.
- In Iraq: According to experts, there are nearly 75 U.S. military bases, the most important of which is Abu Ghraib, the common Base in Balad, also known as Alonokonda for logistic support, Bucca Camp, Cropper Camp, which is part of Victory Bases near Baghdad camp, Dreamland Camp, which is occupied by crews of Marines in Fallujah, Dublin Camp that is part of Victory Bases near Baghdad, Fallujah Camp, Grezle Camp, Al-adala (Justice) Camp, which was renamed in 2004 to become Penzai Camp, Nama Camp which was closed in 2004, Al-Hurria (Liberty ) Camp which is also one of the Victory Bases near Baghdad, Saazir Airbase near Baghdad, Slaer Camp, Shoucair Camp in Zurbatia, Stryker Camp in Baghdad, Puget logistics Base in Baghdad, Saekis facility, Taji Camp, Victory Bases and Victory Camp which supervises the work in the Bases.
U.S. military presence is directed against whom?
The American intensive presence in the region poses the question: against whom is this military buildup?
Analyses vary about the United States enhancing its military presence in the Gulf region. Some argue that this enhancement comes against the backdrop of the failure of the United States in imposing sanctions on Iran because of the Chinese position that refuses the American approach till now, and thus the U.S. administration's position has become more critical before its allies in the Gulf who are wondering whether the U.S is still capable of protecting them from the " Iranian threat ", and before Israel, which put pressure on the United States to confirm the latter's commitment to Israel's security in the face of Iran.
This general attitude pushed the United States to take the decision of deploying weapons systems in the Gulf countries in order to send several messages, including: the American administration's assertion of its commitment to the security of its allies in the region, sending a message to Iran that the military option remains on the table, as well as taking a firm position toward Iran before the American public opinion and International powers, and responding to Republicans who question Obama's Strategy towards Iran.
Other analysts say that promoting U.S. military presence is not directed against Iran, as the number of U.S. military forces there is enough to deal with such threats, even if Iran acquires nuclear weapons. They believe that the American intensive presence comes within the framework of a full review to America's strategy that includes the world as a whole. This review aims at achieving a strategic approach to keep pace with new realities in the Post American-hegemony era the basic function of which is re-establishing American leadership in the world. Within this analysis, the Arabian Gulf region proves to be important as it possesses substantial economic and strategic factors that constitute the main touchstone to test the global leadership of any State.
If we take into account the damage that inflicted the American project to lead the world during the Bush era, and the need to re-establish U.S. leadership in the world again, we realize the reality of the new American attitude that manifest itself in trying to close the Gulf region before the rising powers, particularly China. Such an attitude requires that the U.S. rearranges its military presence in the world as a whole, and in the Gulf in particular as it will be the focus of the next international conflict.
What proves the feasibility of the second analysis is the fact that officials in Washington have told the "Associated Press" that the U.S. moves come in the context of expanding the American military approach to include Europe and Asia, and this entered the phase of implementation several months ago.
Regardless of the validity or accuracy of any of the two opinions, strengthening the American military presence in the Gulf will feed tension and instability. The U.S will not be able to ensure security for all relevant parties; it will, on the contrary, enter a region rich in contrasts, in an arms race that could inflame the whole region.
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