Officially, the dispute between Qatar and three of its Gulf neighbors is over.
But the formal declaration says nothing about foreign policy, meaning that intra-Gulf
rivalries could continue to stoke conflicts and political tensions in the Middle East and Africa.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is limping out of the longest period of
internal turbulence in its 40-year history. Hello and welcome to another episode of
Military TV. Today we will discuss how the Gulf crisis make Qatar expand its military?
On January 5, representatives of the six-member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council congregated
at a summit in the Saudi city of al-Ula. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, and Qatar sought to end their rancorous three-and-a-half-year dispute over Qatar’s drift
toward Iran and restore much-needed cohesion to the GCC, which also includes Kuwait and Oman.
The GCC summit was a resounding success. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain,
and Egypt lifted their blockade on Qatar and restored diplomatic relations with the country.
Qatar also suspended its World Trade Organization case against the UAE’s economic isolation efforts.
Although the end of the Qatar blockade is a positive development,
the Gulf crisis is far from over. The reconciliation at the GCC summit was
triggered by fatigue from the blockade and by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s
desire to rebrand his tarnished image with the new U.S. administration. It occurred without
any compromises from Qatar on its support for Islamist movements or any display of contrition
from Saudi Arabia or the UAE for the blockade’s destabilizing consequences for the Middle East.
That's why Qatar expand its military to protect itself from any threat.
Qatar has embarked on one of the most ambitious armament programmes seen
in the Middle East in recent times. Its armed forces are growing exponentially
as its air force increases in size from 12 to 96 fighter jets, with more on the way. Its army and
navy have seen rapid expansion as Qatar spends billions of dollars in order to protect itself.
Qatar, with its large expatriate population, has traditionally been focused on internal security
but the sharp downturn in relations with its large and well-armed neighbours forced it to re-evaluate
its military. Relations soured in the aftermath of the Arab Spring as each country in the Gulf
Cooperation Council sought to aid and support various factions in the evolving conflicts in
Libya and Syria. It was clear there had been a significant rift within the GCC that was
unlikely to heal any time soon. Qatar quietly looked into boosting its meager armed forces.
The downturn in regional relations reached a critical point in June 2017 when Saudi Arabia,
the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, in a coordinated effort, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar. Emboldened
by a mercurial Trump administration at that time in Washington, DC, these countries recalled their
ambassadors, expelled those of Qatar and imposed a severe economic blockade on the country.
The immediate closure of the Turkish base was among a list of demands issued to Qatar.
With the threat of invasion by Saudi Arabia and the UAE a tangible reality, Qatar strengthen its
country through two approaches. 1. Arms Purchases
Of all the branches of the Qatari military, the air force is undergoing the most significant
expansion. In 2017 the Qatari Emiri Air Force, or QEAF, consisted of a dozen French-made Mirage
2000 fighter jets and some Alpha trainers. The relatively small number of Mirages
would be hopelessly outclassed by the large, modern air forces possessed by Saudi Arabia
and the UAE. Qatar addressed the imbalance with three significant
purchases of new, advanced fighter jets. In May 2015 Doha signed a $6bn deal with French
aerospace giant Dassault for 24 Rafale fighter jets. A further 12 were ordered in 2018 as part
of the initial deal, bringing the total number to 36. Qatar also has an option to buy 36 more.
The Rafale is a highly advanced multirole fighter jet. Combat proven and extremely maneuverable,
it can carry a large payload of weapons, conduct multiple mission types giving planners much-needed
operational flexibility and is a potent addition to any air force’s inventory. Qatar did not stop
there. In 2017 it signed a $12bn deal with US manufacturer Boeing for 36 advanced F-15QA fighter
jets. Although an old airframe, the F-15QA is the most advanced of its line, specializing in air
superiority and, increasingly, long-range ground attack. The Qatari version is able to carry more
weapons and its sensors have been updated. Seeking to diversify its air force further,
Qatar signed a letter of intent with the United Kingdom in September 2017 for 24 Eurofighter
Typhoon fighter jets. It is another advanced aircraft, an air superiority thoroughbred,
yet capable of a wide variety of missions. All three countries, the US, France and the UK,
agreed to train Qatari pilots and provide logistics and training for ground crews in
a tacit yet clear message of support for Qatar. The QEAF will shortly see its small and antiquated
fleet of 12 fighters expanded to 96 advanced fighter jets, making it one of the most powerful
air forces in the region. 2. Growing Turkey Ties
Defence ties with Qatar’s ally Turkey have also strengthened. Turkey’s military-industrial complex
is rapidly maturing and many of its weapons have gained a reputation for combat prowess.
Qatar has bought and received delivery of six Bayraktar TB2 drones. It has also received
two large cadet training ships built in Turkey as well as a fleet of fast patrol craft for its coast
guard. Determined to boost its military capabilities on land, Qatar has sought
to dramatically expand its fleet of main battle tanks. It has bought and seen the delivery of 62
highly advanced German Leopard 2A7, arguably one of the best tanks on the market. These
have been adapted to fight specifically in high temperatures and the sandy terrain of the desert.
In addition, there is an order for 100 Turkish Altay main battle tanks. However, the programme
has run into trouble as its development flounders, adding to delays in production. It is now unlikely
any Altay tanks will be delivered in the next year or so. Despite this setback,
the Qatari Army now fields a far larger force of armour, especially when combined with the recent
purchase of self-propelled artillery from Germany and short-range ballistic missiles from China.
Qatar has also expressed an interest in purchasing Russia’s effective, yet politically controversial,
S-400 air defence system. The Qatari navy is not to be left behind as Italian manufacturer
Fincantieri has been contracted to build four corvettes and an amphibious landing dock.
The Italian defence company has also been contracted to build submarines for Qatar as well
as construct an offshore base for Qatar’s navy. Rapid military expansion is not without its
challenges. Buying weapons from multiple countries means logistics and supply can be an issue.
The integration of increasingly complex systems into a unified structure can also be challenging.
The largest hurdle for the Qatari military will be manpower. In a small country with
a population of 2.78 million, trained personnel adept in the weapons and tactics
of 21st-century warfare are relatively scarce. Nevertheless, the rapid expansion of Qatar’s
armed forces has been nothing short of dramatic. In just a few years,
every branch of its military has increased in size by orders of magnitude, their firepower and
training moving at a great pace. Formerly a cash-rich but militarily insignificant country,
Qatar has grown into a powerful regional force, with allies both in and beyond the region.
Thanks for watching and we hope you enjoy the video.