Global Security Newswire

The United States on Thursday confirmed it is working to strengthen ballistic missile defenses in the Persian Gulf, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, Aug. 9).

A Wednesday New York Times article detailed a number of recent antimissile technology export deals the United States has inked with Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The Obama administration is also attempting to convince members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council that they should join together in a regional missile defense framework. The work would be undertaken as protection against possible attacks by Iran, which is bolstering its ballistic missile resources (see GSN, Aug. 6).

"The threat from ballistic missiles to our deployed forces, allies, and partners in the region is growing, and this threat is likely to increase in both volume and complexity in the coming years," U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said.

"The U.S. has a robust security partnership, including missile defense with our allies and partners in the Gulf and is committed to their security," he added. "The U.S. will continue to work with our partners in the Middle East to strengthen missile defense in the Persian Gulf" (RIA Novosti, Aug. 10).