{"id":32581,"date":"2020-03-16T11:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T11:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/16\/allies-shoulder-for-influence-in-the-gulf-region-as-naval-security-remains-top-priority\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:12:23","slug":"allies-shoulder-for-influence-in-the-gulf-region-as-naval-security-remains-top-priority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/03\/16\/allies-shoulder-for-influence-in-the-gulf-region-as-naval-security-remains-top-priority\/","title":{"rendered":"Allies shoulder for influence in the Gulf region as naval security remains top priority"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BEIRUT \u2014 Even with two separate coalitions charged with ensuring maritime security in the Arabian Gulf region, the waterways are still proving unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One coalition, Operation Sentinel<\/a> based out of Bahrain, is led by the United States and includes the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Australia and the United Kingdom. The U.S. created the group as a means of ensuring \u201ceyes on all shipping,\u201d a senior U.S. State Department official said June 24, following attacks on oil tankers that the U.S. blamed on Iran, according to Reuters reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second coalition, European-Led Coalition In The Strait Of Hormuz, is made up of European countries<\/a>. EMASoH is based out of France\u2019s naval base in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, and has the backing of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we read about the new maritime military alliance led by Washington to ensure Gulf security. We were very pleased, but the details of the naval mission showed strategic stupidity,\u201d retired Kuwaiti Col. Zafer Alajmi told Defense News. \u201cIt stated publicly that the mission includes the Gulf waters, through the Strait of Hormuz, toward the Sea of Oman, and ends at Bab el-Mandeb Strait. How did the military plan to bypass the Red Sea, [which runs along] the western flank of the Gulf, when closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait or the Suez Canal means stopping the export of our oil to Europe and America?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The military component of France\u2019s maritime surveillance and security mission in the Strait of Hormuz was declared fully operational at the end of February. Alajmi called the engagement from the European naval initiative a \u201cwelcome\u201d contrast to the doctrine of increasing burden-sharing coming from the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\t