Qatar Links to GCC Railway
Iran's resolve vis-à-vis Israel is fast-tracking long-stalled Gulf cooperation efforts opening the gate dor interconnected US regional security architecture.
On 2 July, the Qatari Council of Ministers approved the draft general agreement to connect the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to the Gulf Railway project: a proposed $250 billion railway network linking all six member states, first introduced in 2009. Long stalled due to a lack of cohesion on security issues, diplomatic tensions, and economic disagreements, the swift decision to link Doha to this regional project appears to be a direct response to Iran’s recent actions in its confrontation with Israel - most notably, the attack on the American Al Udeid base in Qatar. This incident has underscored Iran’s strength and determination, while also exposing the fragility of the US-dependent security architecture in the Gulf, one requiring a strategic pivot to secure overland logistics routes amid rising regional uncertainties.
US-Qatar: Strategic Partnership Threatened
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