Defense Policies of The Gulf States

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 15 - 47, 30.12.2023

Abdullah Erboğa

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.1349763

Öz

Why do Gulf States exhibit a propensity towards diversification of actors within their defense policies? In addressing this research question, the study focuses on three Gulf States that have prominently asserted themselves through dynamic foreign policy engagement in recent times. Specifically, this study concentrates on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. It will try to explain the political goals of the three Gulf countries, their national security strategies, and the defense policies they follow in line with this strategy. Through the process tracing methodology, the study leverages data sourced from internationally recognized institutions within the realm of defense studies concerning the Gulf States. In this context, it is possible to say that the Arab Revolts emerged as a serious transformation process in the defense policies of the Gulf countries. The fact that the U.S. started to give up on assuming global military costs, including the Gulf region, has, of course significantly affected the defense policies of the Gulf countries. The main argument of the study is that although the Gulf countries are searching for new strategic partners for defense autonomy, it remains constrained due to the low probability of changing the unipolar structure in the international system.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, National Security, Defense

Körfez Ülkelerinin Savunma Politikaları

Öz

Körfez ülkeleri savunma alanında neden aktör çeşitlenmesine yönelmektedir? Çalışma, araştırma sorusunu cevaplarken son yıllarda aktif dış politikasıyla kendilerinden söz ettiren üç Körfez ülkesine; Suudi Arabistan, BAE ve Katar’a odaklanacaktır. Üç Körfez ülkesinin siyasi hedeflerini, ulusal güvenlik stratejilerini ve bu strateji doğrultusunda takip ettikleri savunma politikalarını açıklamaya çalışacaktır. Süreç Analizi yönteminin kullanılacağı çalışmada, uluslararası saygın kuruluşların Körfez ülkelerinin savunma alanına ait oluşturduğu verilerden yararlanılacaktır. Bölgesel ölçekte güçlü bir oyuncu olarak yer almaya çalışan Katar, BAE ve Suudi Arabistan’ın özellikle Arap İsyanları sürecinde Ortadoğu uluslararası ilişkilerinde etkin olduklarını söylemek mümkündür. Bu bağlamda Körfez ülkelerinin savunma politikalarında Arap İsyanları’nın ciddi bir dönüşüm süreci olarak ortaya çıktığını söylemek mümkündür. ABD’nin Körfez bölgesi de dahil olmak üzere küresel askeri maliyetleri üstlenmekten vazgeçmeye başlaması elbette Körfez ülkelerinin savunma politikalarını önemli ölçüde etkilemiştir. Katar, BAE ve Suudi Arabistan, ABD’nin güvenlik şemsiyesini kaldırması ve askeri varlığını azaltmasıyla birlikte yeni savunma tasarımları için gerekli olan araçları/silah sistemlerini tedarik etmek adına yüksek oranda silahlanmaya ve bunun içinde aktör çeşitlendirmesine yönelmişlerdir. Çalışmanın temel iddiası her ne kadar Körfez ülkeleri savunma ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için yeni stratejik ortaklar arayışı içinde olsa da, uluslararası sistemdeki tek kutuplu yapının değişme olasılığının düşük olması nedeniyle Körfez ülkelerinin savunma politikalarında eksen kayması ihtimalinin zayıf olduğunu ileri sürmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Suudi Arabistan, Katar, BAE, Savunma, Ulusal Güvenlik

Kaynakça

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