Qatari Official Says U.S. Military Presence Alone Is Insufficient for Gulf Security

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, said on Monday that a strategic alliance with the United States is no longer sufficient to guarantee Gulf security, according to reports from the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi. Al-Ansari stated that the war with Iran, which began on 28 February, has demonstrated that international forces and the U.S. alliance are important but “not enough” to ensure regional safety [3].

“Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward,” al-Ansari said, according to Middle East Eye. “Yes, we need our partners. Yes, we need our allies. But we cannot depend on them alone for our security,” he added during the forum on Monday [2]. His comments come amid repeated Iranian retaliatory attacks on U.S. assets and energy infrastructure in the region, which have included missile and drone strikes on Gulf states [6].

U.S. Military Footprint in Qatar and Recent Evacuations

Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Arab world and the regional headquarters for U.S. Central Command, according to officials [3]. The country has been a central node in U.S. operations in the region, a fact that has made it a target for retaliatory attacks since the onset of the current conflict [1].

Thousands of U.S. military and embassy personnel were evacuated from various Gulf states earlier this year as Iran increased its attacks on American assets, and it remains unclear whether all evacuees will return, the report stated [3]. Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said that reducing the U.S. presence in the region would likely create more problems than it solves. “Honestly, when you try to pull away from it, and you sort of minimise to the greatest degree your resource allocation, often it doesn’t work out well,” Haines said at the Financial Times Festival [3].

Ansari: Partnerships Must Be Complemented by Regional Self-Defense

Al-Ansari emphasized that Gulf nations must develop their own security capabilities rather than depending solely on Washington. “We need to realise in the Gulf that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the United States, is very important, but is not enough,” he said [2]. He stressed that the current crisis has exposed the limits of relying on external powers for regional protection [5].

Al-Ansari also addressed relations with Tehran, stating that rebuilding trust with Iran is necessary even though it will take time. “We will for sure find a way of living next to Iran,” he told The National, while adding that “most of the responsibility for that lies on the Iranian side – in exercising good neighbourly relations and realising that they are living next to neighbours, not enemies” [3]. He also warned that “the world cannot afford for this conflict to continue” and that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened for international trade [2].

U.S. Officials Offer Contrasting Views on Engagement and Sanctions

Avril Haines argued against drawing down U.S. forces from the Gulf, stating that a smaller footprint would create greater instability. Her remarks at the Financial Times Festival, reported by Middle East Eye, suggest a continuing debate within U.S. policy circles about the appropriate level of military commitment to the region [3].

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the Strait of Hormuz could become “worthless” within two years as new oil pipelines bypass the waterway [7]. Al-Ansari rejected this assessment, insisting that “the Strait of Hormuz has been a crossroad for international trade for millennia. No one action or situation will change that” [3]. He further disagreed with the U.S. strategy of imposing severe economic sanctions on Iran, saying sanctions “in Iraq, Libya and other countries has never delivered a straightforward desired outcome” [3].

Regional Stability and the Path Forward

The conflict has disrupted regional economic models that rely on stability and open shipping lanes [4]. Al-Ansari underlined the strait’s continued importance regardless of proposed alternatives, saying “no one action or situation will change that” when asked about the waterway’s long-term relevance [3]. He indicated that Qatar will “extend our hands when the time is right” while simultaneously maintaining a deterrent capability that has been demonstrated during the crisis [2].

The divergence between regional and U.S. officials over security priorities underscores the uncertainty facing Gulf states as they assess whether American protection remains a reliable cornerstone of their defense strategies. The conflict has upended long-held beliefs about the U.S. security umbrella, fueling a broader realignment in the region [5]. Whether the thousands of evacuated U.S. personnel will return to their bases remains an open question, leaving Gulf governments to contemplate a future in which they may have to assume a greater share of the responsibility for their own defense [3].

References

1. Ramon Tomey. “Qatari military facility in Idaho sparks debate over sovereignty and foreign influence”. NaturalNews.com. October 15, 2025.
2. Middle East Eye. “‘Important but not enough’: Iran war shows Gulf cannot rely on US for security, Qatar says”. September 7, 2026.
3. Middle East Eye. “US presence in Gulf ‘not enough’ for security, Qatari official says”. September 7, 2026.
4. Responsible Statecraft. “Gulf states struggle to recover economically after 6 months of war”. September 1, 2026.
5. Ahmed Mawlana. “How the war on Iran will redefine the Middle East order”. Middle East Eye. June 19, 2026.
6. Times of Israel. “Analysis: Iran’s strikes on Arab states open door to new Gulf approach toward Israel”. March 6, 2026.
7. Times of Israel. “US treasury secretary says deal with Iran to reopen Hormuz could be sealed by Wednesday”. August 4, 2026.

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