Saleh al-Motari, director of the Madar Center for Political Studies, stated that the Gulf states' decision to establish a forward headquarters for a joint military command in Kuwait reflects lessons learned from the US-Israel war against Iran that began in February.
Motari indicated that the Gulf states have realized that collective and joint security cannot rely solely on agreements and political stances, even if the positions of the countries are aligned. They also need military force, as well as a security and military command system capable of rapidly responding to contingencies and emergencies, particularly in terms of early warning capabilities. While it is not yet clear which troops will be involved or what specific types of military forces will be deployed, he believes that this command is clearly designed to address relevant security threats.
Motari pointed out that Kuwait's geographical location makes it a strategically significant choice. Kuwait is close to Iran, borders Iraq, and is located at the northernmost point of the Persian Gulf. He stated that this geographical location means that once the relevant troops are deployed, or the command is officially operational, it can serve as an early warning outpost for the entire Gulf region, particularly helpful in detecting attacks launched by drones or missiles.
Mutari also stated that the newly established forward headquarters will coordinate with the existing joint military command of the Gulf states, which was established in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, in 2013. He described this move as a preventative risk hedging measure, reflecting the Gulf states' strategic shift towards a collective security concept.
