Gulf militaries are drilling, signing defence pacts and working diplomatic phones simultaneously, as the region tries to contain fallout from drone strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure that Riyadh attributed to Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory.
The “Bahrain Shield” joint exercise, involving all Gulf Cooperation Council armed forces and scheduled to run through Thursday, is the operational centrepiece of this dual-track posture. The drills are designed to improve joint military cooperation, exchange expertise and test the effectiveness of collective defence mechanisms. That is the stated goal. Whether the exercise translates into genuine interoperability will depend on follow-through after the drills conclude.
Kuwait is moving on a separate track. The country has launched military recruitment programmes for citizens across educational qualifications and approved a defence cooperation agreement with Pakistan, signed in Kuwait in June 2023, that establishes a joint military committee and provides for annual meetings between defence ministry representatives. The agreement formalises coordination that had previously been informal, giving both sides a structured mechanism to manage bilateral security matters.
The military activity follows Saudi Arabia’s announcement that it intercepted and destroyed drones launched from Iraqi territory targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry attributed the strikes to “Iran-backed terrorist militias.” Major General Turki al-Maliki, the Saudi military spokesman, stated that “the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend itself and its capabilities remains intact, and it retains the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.” The Saudi Foreign Ministry separately called on Baghdad to take all necessary measures to prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a launch point for attacks on the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Gulf capitals have launched an intensive diplomatic campaign running in parallel to the military preparations. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate telephone calls with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al Sabah to coordinate on regional developments. Prince Faisal also spoke with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, with London reaffirming support for Saudi Arabia and condemning attacks by Iran-backed militias. Saudi Arabia and Oman discussed maritime security specifically, with both sides emphasising the importance of protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar has intensified its own contacts, holding discussions with Saudi Arabia and Jordan on reducing tensions and preserving regional stability. Doha called on all parties to remain committed to dialogue and to implement understandings reached under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, including guarantees for freedom of navigation through Hormuz.
Oman has positioned itself as the central mediator. Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi held talks with Gulf states, Egypt and Iran on arrangements aimed at restoring maritime movement and easing tensions around Hormuz, focusing on practical, fair and sustainable solutions for shipping and supply chains. Oman’s Foreign Ministry said the discussions covered safe navigation, restored trade flows and the protection of economic interests linked to one of the world’s most critical maritime passages. Sources told US media that Oman-Iran talks had made significant progress. Reports indicated that Muscat had proposed a regional alliance to provide services and support for shipping through Hormuz, drawing on cooperation models used at other major maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Malacca.
The drone strikes came after several days of reduced direct confrontation between Iran and Gulf states, a lull that made the attacks more jarring and raised concerns that tensions could intensify again despite ongoing diplomatic work. Kuwait’s Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al Sabah characterised his country’s policy of neutrality towards regional conflicts as “a deep strategic wisdom” that protects national security and reflects political maturity built over decades.
The practical question now is whether Oman’s mediation effort can produce arrangements durable enough to hold. Muscat is talking to all sides, the Bahrain Shield exercise is still running, and Saudi Arabia has reserved the right to respond to the drone strikes at a time and place of its choosing. Those three tracks are moving simultaneously, and how they interact over the coming weeks will determine whether the region stabilises or tips toward another round of escalation.