The Gulf Cooperation Council states have shifted from a strategy of cautious balancing between Iran and Western allies to a far more confrontational stance following Iranian drone strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi. What was once a policy rooted in de-escalation and diplomatic outreach, including the China-brokered normalization between Riyadh and Tehran in 2023, has given way to calls for a decisive response. Gulf leaders now describe the moment as a historic turning point that requires neutralizing Iran’s regional threat rather than managing it.

The article argues that Israel’s longstanding doctrine of overwhelming military strength, rooted in Ze'ev Jabotinsky’s 'Iron Wall' philosophy, has proven its value in the current conflict. As Israeli and American forces strike Iranian targets and degrade the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gulf states increasingly view Israel not merely as a quiet partner but as a central pillar of regional stability. Military deterrence, rather than diplomacy alone, is portrayed as the force protecting the region from further escalation.

The author calls on the United States to abandon efforts for a premature ceasefire and instead formalize a permanent regional defense structure. By integrating air defense, intelligence, and military coordination among the United States, Israel, and Gulf states, a Middle East defense alliance could contain Iran without a large, long-term American ground presence. According to the article, the previous regional order has collapsed, and Gulf states are now openly aligning with Israel and the West to build a new security architecture.