Qatar to announce a new regional defence partnership

Qatar is gearing up to announce a new regional security partnership as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran reshapes the Gulf security landscape. Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the initiative would focus on areas including air defense, counter-drone systems and cyber security. We are partnering with a regional partner in addition to other partners such as the United States, United Kingdom, France to make sure either we do a local production or we are investing in some of these companies and as I also mentioned we will announce soon also the defense hub here in Qatar. The move comes after months of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the region exposing vulnerabilities in infrastructure and raising questions about the reliance of Gulf countries on external security partners. Al-Thani said Doha was drawing lessons from the turmoil Qatar already hosts the largest US military base in the region, and maintains close defense ties with the UK and France. The new pact could build on those relationships, while opening the door to closer regional coordination. The full details have yet to be released, including which countries are participating. But for Qatar, the message is clear. Diplomacy may help prevent the next war, but everyone needs to be prepared for the possibility that it won't.