Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Gulf nations can no longer solely rely on the US and international alliances for their security and must become self-sufficient, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry declared.
"We need to realize in the Gulf that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the United States, is very important, but is not enough," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson told the Hili Forum in the United Arab Emirates' capital on Monday.
"Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward. Yes, we need our partners. Yes, we need our allies. But we cannot depend on them alone for our security," he continued.
Qatar is a key mediator in the US-Iran war and has also sustained heavy Iranian attacks, especially on its energy infrastructure. The tiny but wealthy, gas-rich country hosts the biggest US base in the Middle East, making it a key target for retaliatory attacks.
Throughout the war, Iran has responded to US attacks by slamming American military sites with missile barrages and repeatedly attacking energy facilities across the Middle East.
After six months of conflict, the US-Israel alliance is at a stalemate with Iran, the latter disrupting traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and effectively cutting off about 20% of the world's oil supply. In response, the US has pressed a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
Last month, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani traveled to Tehran as part of the mediation efforts, after Iran and Oman, which border the key strait, said they were discussing a temporary shipping corridor and mine-clearing.