I. The End of the Post-Gulf War Order

This chapter looks at the modern evolution of the Gulf security system, and in particular the way the recent development in US Middle East policy is signalling the end of the current structure of the regional order. The historical perspective underlines two realities that are too often neglected. First, the current security architecture of the Gulf is not an old construct. Relying primarily on US military presence, this loose structure can be traced back to the 1991 Gulf War and the subsequent reinforcement of US troops in the region. Second, these US deployments may have been massive, but they did not prevent frequent misperceptions and diplomatic tensions between Washington and Gulf capitals regarding the former’s resolve to defend its partners in the region.