It Ain’t “New” Middle East, It’s a New Arms Race
Since 2013, Saudi Arabia’s defence
spendings have risen by almost 13 percent. Bahrain`s government, which
was so threatened by the revolutionary movement that Saudi tanks rolled
in to quell demonstrations, also upped military spendings that year by
26 percent. This trend reflects what can now be called post-deal arms
race in the same (old) Middle East. The Iran deal, as it stands, seems
to have pushed the Mid-Eastern States towards maintaining huge defence
spendings.
Although the Iran-US nuclear deal was
expected to reduce tension in the Middle East, and although Sunni-Arab
states have cautiously expressed their support for the deal, there is
hardly anything meaningful happening on the ground that might help us
argue that the Middle East is heading towards an era of peace or that
Sunni-Shia rivalry is easing down. The crux of the matter is that the
U.S., one of the main actors behind the deal, is also the main factor
behind triggering fresh arms race in the Middle East. For the U.S., it
is a matter of strategy; for its Arab allies, it is a matter of
maintaining balance of power, albeit in their own favour.
expected to reduce tension in the Middle East, and although Sunni-Arab
states have cautiously expressed their support for the deal, there is
hardly anything meaningful happening on the ground that might help us
argue that the Middle East is heading towards an era of peace or that
Sunni-Shia rivalry is easing down. The crux of the matter is that the
U.S., one of the main actors behind the deal, is also the main factor
behind triggering fresh arms race in the Middle East. For the U.S., it
is a matter of strategy; for its Arab allies, it is a matter of
maintaining balance of power, albeit in their own favour.
Not only Iran, but also its main rivals,
including Israel, are up against each other in the new race to buttress
their defence; while the U.S. is certainly not falling short of fanning
this rivalry for its own benefits. Arms deals worth billions of dollars
not only benefit a number of U.S. based defence contractors but also
allows the U.S. to play these rival states against each other, help
foster proxy groups, and wage proxy wars.
including Israel, are up against each other in the new race to buttress
their defence; while the U.S. is certainly not falling short of fanning
this rivalry for its own benefits. Arms deals worth billions of dollars
not only benefit a number of U.S. based defence contractors but also
allows the U.S. to play these rival states against each other, help
foster proxy groups, and wage proxy wars.
It was just weeks after the pact was
announced that Saudi Arabia signed up to buy 600 Patriot missiles from
the United States at $5 billion, and it is expected to purchase 10
Sikorsky MH-60R naval helicopters. Qatar has inked a $17 billion
contract for French made Rafale fighter jets, and wants to buy Boeing
F-15s. Kuwait recently bought 28 F-18 Super Hornets. The United Arab
Emirates is expecting $200 million worth of General Atomics Predator
drones next year. (Iran, soon to be relieved of sanctions, has a deal
with Russia for a missile-defence system and is eyeing French and
Russian fighters.)
http://journal-neo.org/2015/08/13/it-ain-t-new-middle-east-it-s-a-new-arms-race/
announced that Saudi Arabia signed up to buy 600 Patriot missiles from
the United States at $5 billion, and it is expected to purchase 10
Sikorsky MH-60R naval helicopters. Qatar has inked a $17 billion
contract for French made Rafale fighter jets, and wants to buy Boeing
F-15s. Kuwait recently bought 28 F-18 Super Hornets. The United Arab
Emirates is expecting $200 million worth of General Atomics Predator
drones next year. (Iran, soon to be relieved of sanctions, has a deal
with Russia for a missile-defence system and is eyeing French and
Russian fighters.)
http://journal-neo.org/2015/08/13/it-ain-t-new-middle-east-it-s-a-new-arms-race/
