The Geopolitical Significance of the Gulf Region amid the Threat of Salafi-Jihadi Terrorism

For over two decades, the Gulf states have faced terrorist threats from the Salafi-Jihadi movement, which includes organizations such as al-Qaeda and ISIS. Led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states have successfully formed a military, ideological, economic, and legal front to protect not only their national security but also regional and even global security, given the Gulf’s geopolitical and strategic importance. Although their counterterrorism efforts have yielded significant achievements, the fight against terrorism remains far from over, as the Middle East continues to experience upheavals, extreme geopolitical shifts, and the involvement of states that support terrorism, such as the Iranian regime.