Saudi-Qatar Alignment on Regional Security: Strategic Takeaways for the GCC

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have become pivotal players in creating more coherent security in the Gulf. After two years of political tensions, cooperation now exists between Riyadh and Doha as a product of realism and pragmatic interests, in response to the instability in the region, economic interests and the plans for more strategic autonomy.

Their alignment goes beyond diplomacy. Cooperation between the two Gulf states could shape the response to future security challenges to the wider GCC, ranging from maritime security to joint exercises, resilience in the economy to external partnerships.

Unified Approach to Regional De-escalation

A priority point of Saudi-Qatar coordination is the focus on deescalation in the region. Both states have an interest in avoiding the threat of regional powers exacerbating and escalating conflict beyond the Gulf region.

Diplomatic interaction affords Riyadh and Doha other avenues in crisis management. Saudi Arabia is building its diplomatic and defence relations with countries while Qatar has developed good relations with various regional and international actors that can provide additional space for coordinated action by the GCC.

Protecting the Gulf’s Maritime Lifelines

Another key issue in the relationship is maritime security. The Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea are important routes for transportation of energy supplies and world trade in the region.

The LNG industry in Qatar is heavily geared towards safe maritime trade routes, the energy industry in Saudi Arabia is tied closely to the uninterrupted journey of energy trade, and commercial shipping is equally vital to the Kingdom. This coordination thus puts into perspective both countries’ interests in securing shipping lanes and critical infrastructure.

From Political Alignment to Operational Cooperation

With security coordination, cooperation is trending away from politics and toward action. Combined exercises of the security forces from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar will deepen the level of communication, inter operability and crisis response.

Cooperation can include operational readiness exercises like Arabian Gulf Security 4, intelligence coordination and coordination of responses to emerging threats like drones and other asymmetric threats.

Different Partnerships, Shared Strategic Objectives

Saudi Arabia and Qatar too have contributed specific diplomatic and strategic values to the GCC. Alongside the Gulf countries, Qatar has strong diplomatic relations with other nations, and Saudi Arabia has large military, economic and political bases in the Gulf region.

Such complementary relationships can boost the capacity of the GCC to forge partnerships with multiple international partners. The defence cooperation between Riyadh and Türkiye/Pakistan is a good example of how a regional security structure is looking to expand.

Foundation for Economic Growth

Perhaps the most solid and long-term justification for the Saudi-Qatari partnership is economic transformation. Both Saudi Vision 2030 and the Qatar national development agenda rely on attracting investment, a more vibrant tourism and city building, and the development of non-hydrocarbon sectors.

A secure Gulf is vital for these aspirations. It is not sufficient, therefore, to consider any security coordination as always being a defensive measure, it also represents an economic infrastructure for the long-term development.

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What Does This Mean for the GCC?

Saudi-Qatar relations may prove to play a key role in expanding the integration of the GCC security space. More cooperation amongst the two strong member countries would lend itself to sharing information, a combined and more robust response to regional crises and also to greater information sharing, joint preparedness.

For cooperation, however, necessary conditions must be found both on the political level, in the form of trust and continuity, and the operational level, in which strategies must be followed up with consistent coordination on a broader GCC level.

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