In this episode of Axis & Arch, we sit down with two of the authors behind the recent report From Patron to Partner: Rethinking Gulf Defence After the Iran War. As regional conflicts intensify and vulnerabilities become more exposed, GCC states face mounting uncertainty without a clear alternative framework in place. This episode explores the growing strain on the Gulf’s longstanding security model, historically anchored in U.S. protection.
Karl Theus and Nicole Weber examine the structural, legal, and strategic challenges shaping the region today – from the limits of GCC defence cooperation to the legal and normative tensions emerging in contemporary conflicts. Together, they discuss what a future regional security architecture for the Gulf could look like amid increasing fragmentation and risk.
