I have referred in several previous articles to the threats to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf states, each linked to a specific event. However, the persistent question remains: despite regional and international efforts to address these threats, they continue to exist and even escalate. This occurs in a time when the global reliance on maritime transport for international trade has increased by up to 400% in recent years. So, what are the challenges in addressing these threats, especially given the vital dependence of the Arabian Gulf states on maritime corridors for global trade? These states are classified as maritime nations due to their strategic location and proximity to two of the world’s most important maritime passages, the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Initially, by analyzing the nature of maritime security threats in the Arabian Gulf region from the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s to the current situation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, it becomes clear that maritime security is not the direct cause of regional conflicts but rather a card employed by parties with naval influence and power. These parties recognize the strategic importance of this card in conflicts. It serves as a touchpoint between regional and global security. Numerous examples demonstrate this, such as maritime security threats being the primary reason for the establishment of international coalitions.

One critical point to emphasize is that maritime security threats result from intense and unprecedented regional conflicts, pushing the parties involved to extend their disputes into the seas. These waters become genuine arenas to test the balance of power among conflicting parties. This highlights the notion that there can be no maritime security without fundamentally resolving regional conflicts. While military alliances are important for deterrence, their impact is tied to their specific missions. Maritime security threats, however, are continuous.

Additionally, another pressing issue is the resolution of maritime boundary disputes, especially when these borders encompass resources like oil or hold strategic importance. Such disputes often lay the groundwork for broader conflicts. Although the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) provides a legal framework agreed upon by nations, the lack of adherence to its provisions remains a challenge to achieving maritime security. The implementation of these provisions largely depends on the naval capabilities of nations, particularly those with maritime boundary disputes with neighbors.

Moreover, the technological advancements, especially in artificial intelligence, have profoundly influenced maritime security threats. The major challenge lies in how non-state actors exploit these technologies to threaten maritime security, causing significant damage with minimal cost. For instance, the use of advanced drones by non-state actors, such as the Houthi group, poses a significant threat. History is replete with examples, from the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden to the recent thwarted attempts to use underwater drones.

Finally, instead of seas being areas of cooperation among nations, particularly in maritime security where interests often align, they have increasingly become arenas of competition and conflict. Despite many countries, including major powers, issuing independent maritime security strategies—previously included within their broader national security strategies—these strategies reflect competition rather than collaboration in maritime security. This underscores that the role of major powers in ensuring maritime security is influenced by global competition and conflicts in various maritime regions.

Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.

Source: Akhbar Al Khaleej