Saudi Arabia and the UAE are looking to a broader range of allies as they look to combat complex threats in the Middle East, a political commentator says.
“They are not betting on Washington anymore and a single strategic ally,” said Dr Abdukhaleq Abdullah, chairman of the Arab Council for Social Sciences, speaking at the Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate.
"They are looking for new strategic partners, with attempts in Russia and Asia.
"From now on, there is a UAE and Saudi political, economic and diplomatic force and the decision will be a Gulf decision as they will form developments in the region.”
Salem Alyami, political analyst and former adviser at the Saudi ministry of foreign affairs, said there was a need to "view security from an Arab angle".
"We need to be convinced in the GCC that the commodity of security needs to be shared by other countries."
According to studies, he said, the GCC military force is not up to a security threat.
"If the Gulf crisis with Qatar persists, it will keep our region from achieving its own security and, more dangerously, the crisis will divide GCC political structures," Mr Alyami said.
