Key facts
- Gulf states face 4,670 Iranian drones and 1,400 ballistic missiles before April 8 ceasefire.
- Damage to energy infrastructure estimated at $58 billion.
Gulf states need to reconfigure their trillion-dollar defence strategies following the Iran war, according to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The conflict highlighted the damage to economies, the questionable value of US bases, and the inadequacy of current military preparedness against attritional air warfare.
The report suggests that decades of defence partnerships with the US have failed to ensure adequate protection for Gulf states against Iranian aggression, potentially leading to a reassessment of security alliances and military spending.
Gulf states must rethink their trillion-dollar defence strategies due to economic damage and the questionable continued value of US bases in the face of Iranian attacks, according to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. In the weeks before an April 8 ceasefire, regional states faced thousands of Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, with nearly half aimed at the UAE. The report estimates damage to energy infrastructure at up to $58 billion. It also highlights that despite significant investment in US armaments, Gulf militaries are not adequately prepared for attritional air warfare and rely too heavily on US-supplied defence systems. US Senator Chris Murphy also questioned the strategic value of rebuilding damaged US bases in the Gulf, suggesting a smaller footprint might be necessary.
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