GCC States in Transition: Defense, Security, and Military Adaptation in an Era of U.S. Decline: Introduction to the Special Issue

This Special Issue provides a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing strategic transformation within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states as they navigate a new era of geopolitical uncertainty marked by the perceived decline of the United States as the region’s principal security guarantor. For decades, Gulf security was predicated on a patron–client relationship with Washington; however, a series of U.S. policy shifts has eroded this foundation, compelling GCC states to transition from passive security consumers to active shapers of their own defense futures. This Special Issue argues that this transition is characterized by a multi-pronged strategy of adaptation, including the diversification of security partnerships, hedging, and a renewed focus on military professionalization and resilience. The contributions critically examine these trends, introducing novel theoretical frameworks such as Dynamic Security Regimes (DSR), Gulf-tailored hedging concept, and military isomorphism to explain the increasingly complex dynamics, fluid security arrangements, and the need for new military policies. By analyzing a range of case studies—from the UAE-Israel rapprochement to Saudi Arabia’s military modernization—this Special Issue offers crucial insights into the future of Gulf security, the challenges of achieving strategic autonomy, and the broader implications.