Faisal Abdulhamid Al-Mudahka
The Arabian Gulf today pursues a balanced diplomatic policy grounded in calls for negotiation and support for political processes aimed at ending the Iran conflict, thereby reinforcing the principle of good neighborliness and enhancing regional stability, including backing the ongoing mediation between the US and Iran by Pakistan.
At the same time, the Arabian Gulf categorically rejects all forms of wanton aggression and makes clear that any attempt to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz or use it as a pressure card is entirely unacceptable. The Gulf states cannot and will not be held hostage under any circumstances.
Imposing restrictions or levies on freedom of navigation through the strait constitutes a flagrant violation of international law: the Strait of Hormuz is a natural waterway governed by the law of the sea, which guarantees freedom of passage, and it cannot be treated as a channel subject to sovereign control or political extortion.
Any attempt to impose a new reality or alter its legal status will be met with firm rejection. It is a vital artery for global energy security and international economic stability.
It bears recalling that the other shore of the strait is not the preserve of a single party. The Sultanate of Oman overlooks it through the Musandam Governorate and UAE islands are also present there. This is a reality that reflects the complex geographical and legal character of the strait and confirms the impossibility of monopolizing or controlling this critical waterway.
Iran today finds itself in a state of growing international isolation as a result of its escalation and its attacks on the Gulf states, which have cost it much of the regional sympathy it once enjoyed. We affirm that no attack can be legally justified under the pretext of “self-defense.” Targeting the Gulf states constitutes aggression, plain and simple.
In this context, it is worth noting that the continuation of tension serves multiple parties, whether directly or indirectly, at the expense of regional stability. Iran’s policies in the region, including support for armed groups, the undermining of good-neighborliness and the stoking of conflicts, run counter to the principle of collective security. Security must be either universal or it will not exist at all.
The Gulf states are not a party to the American-Israeli-Iranian war and they will not fall into that trap. It is therefore essential to pursue strategic courses of action, foremost among them the establishment of a joint defense architecture along the lines of a “Gulf NATO,” with the possibility of regional powers such as Turkiye or Pakistan joining to strengthen collective deterrence.
Equally urgent is the acceleration of a regional network for the transmission of gas, oil, electricity and water, linking the Gulf states and extending through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea, through Oman to the Arabian Sea and potentially to the Mediterranean via Syria — diversifying energy routes and strengthening energy security.
In the same vein, there is a pressing need to develop a transcontinental rail network connecting East Asia, including China, to Europe via the Arab region, facilitating trade flows, deepening economic integration and reviving the region’s historic role as a global trade hub along the lines of the ancient Silk Road.
Such projects would reinforce stability and development, rather than leaving the door open to expansionist agendas or unilateral visions. Sustainable stability is also bound up with achieving a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian question on the basis of a two-state solution and UN resolutions.
In this framework, it is important to adopt a unified Gulf foreign policy on regional and international issues and to accelerate the implementation of regional transport projects such as the Gulf Railway and the Asia-Europe economic corridors. This would deepen economic integration among the Gulf states and strengthen their international standing.
On the peace front, the Arab Peace Initiative must be upheld as a comprehensive framework for a full and just settlement. Genuine integration cannot be built without a unified policy, a shared defense architecture and a clear collective deterrent.
The message, in closing, remains constant: Arabian Gulf security is a red line and its stability is a collective responsibility that admits no compromise. The Gulf states will remain steadfast in their right to protect their sovereignty and safeguard their interests by every legitimate means available.
Faisal Abdulhamid Al-Mudahka is Editor-in-Chief of Gulf Times, where this article was originally published.
