New regional naval alliance major step toward US-free world order: Analyst

The formation of a regional naval alliance is a major step toward the establishment of a new world order free from the United States, according to a prominent Arab commentator.

Majid Alshwaily, an analyst on regional affairs and vice president of the Ofogh Center for Political Studies based in Iraq, in an interview with the Press TV website, said the strategic plan points to a broad vision for the improvement of relations among states in West Asia.

He said the move, which comes amid the wave of normalizations in the region, is s step towards creating a new world order and international relations minus American clout. 

“Given the waning power of the United States in the region and across the globe, regional coalitions are poised to prove more successful than ever,” Alshwaily said.

“Following the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in February 1979 and as part of his doctrine, former US president Jimmy Carter stated that the Persian Gulf region is among Washington’s spheres of influence, and he views any threat in the area as a direct threat to the US.

"That explains the formation of the quick reaction force, which was employed in 1990 to expel Iraqi forces loyal to executed dictator Saddam Hussein from Kuwait and secure Saudi Arabia’s border regions."

Even though Americans had claimed that the quick reaction force was chiefly tasked with confronting the Soviet Union after its withdrawal from Afghanistan and preventing Moscow from invading and dominating the Strait of Hormuz, through which most of the world’s oil exports flow, Alshwaily said.

He hastened to add that the fact is that they took the step in fear of the newly-formed Islamic establishment in the region, which had come to power in the wake of a popular revolution in Iran and had already announced its position against the United States and Israel, Alshwaily said.

The political commentator emphasized that the rise of the Islamic Republic in Iran caused worries and concerns for US statesmen, as they regarded it as an adversary to their own interests.

“While the US has announced plans to expand its military presence in the Persian Gulf waters, the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stressed the need for the creation of a regional coalition to ensure maritime security," Alshwaily stated.

“Iran has also demanded the formation of an Islamic ground, air and sea military force to ensure the security of the region and eliminate the need for American bases. But unfortunately, the allies of the United States preferred to remain manipulated by US strategies in the region and the world."

He said Iran has time and again stressed the necessity for the formation of an Islamic military alliance, which would ensure the security of the entire region and culminate in the expulsion of US military forces from the region.

Resolution of existing concerns and woes [in the region] will enhance the military prowess of Iran, Alshwaily argued.

The political analyst also said the enhancement of Iran-Qatar ties, the rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh, and the waning US influence in West Asia and around the world have pushed regional states to realize that they should ensure the security of the region and its interests by themselves and do not allow outsiders to deploy their forces there.

“It is absolutely clear that US presence will have dire political and security repercussions, and could result in the escalation of seditious plots and flare-up of conflicts between brotherly countries,” Alshwaily said.

The political analyst added that regional countries have come to the conclusion that Washington is no longer capable of defending their national interests and that major international developments have created a new reality in the region.

When asked about Washington’s reaction to Iran’s proposal for the formation of a joint naval force, Alshwaily said Americans will act to protect their interests and security, but there is no doubt that the security of the region cannot be ensured without the Islamic Republic.

It is not sensible to overlook Iran’s capabilities and important role in the region, especially as the country has proven its goodwill over the past four decades and has neither posed any threats nor launched an act of aggression against the interests of others, the Iraqi political pundit said.

“Arab states have fully understood the weight of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and know that that the country can practically ensure the security of the region, and fill the void once American forces withdraw from the region,” Alshwaily said.

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