Qatar’s former Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani warned the Gulf countries about the implications of the intensifying competition between the United States and China in the region. The Qatari ex-PM called the Arab Gulf states to be careful in terms of protecting their interests.
Drawing attention to the shifts in US policy in recent times, Al Thani wrote on Twitter that “the United States will mobilize more of its naval forces in the Pacific region at the expense of its naval presence in our region, which is what Washington has already started.”
Hamad bin Jassim added that “Global attention will focus in the coming years on the competition between the US and China in the economic and political fields, and what this entails in terms of the military force required to protect these privileges.”
According to the former Prime Minister, by this change in US policy, the Gulf region will be more vulnerable to threats. He pointed out this issue, saying, “the direct result of this American repositioning is that our region will be more exposed and vulnerable to concerns of danger.”
To stand against this threat, Hamad bin Jassim suggested that the Arab Gulf states should develop a common approach in this regard. On this issue, he called on the region’s countries to act according to common interests and not the interests of others.
Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a regional tour. The minister visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Bahrain, as well as Iran, within the scope of the tour.
