The U.S. military would only get in the way; Kuwait also wants to court Pakistan, deploying Chinese fighter jets for protection.
After the resumption of U.S.-Iran hostilities, Gulf states have once again become the main targets of Iran's retaliatory strikes. Unfortunately, the United States—supposed to play the role of "bodyguard"—is now preoccupied with its own survival. Instead of protecting its "backer," Trump is demanding "protection fees" from Gulf states, a situation that is deeply ironic.
Faced with no other choice, Gulf states are taking matters into their own hands. Qatar has refused Israel’s provocations and clearly stated it will continue serving as a mediator, vowing not to join any combat against Iran.
Kuwait, meanwhile, is attempting to emulate Saudi Arabia by seeking Pakistan’s protection. Multiple sources familiar with the matter reveal that Kuwait is currently in talks with Pakistan, aiming to expand defense cooperation between the two nations.
The primary agenda of these negotiations involves Pakistan providing security services to Kuwait, ideally deploying thousands of Pakistani troops to Kuwait’s territory—just as Saudi Arabia has done. In return, Kuwait will offer Pakistan favorable conditions in energy and investment sectors.
This explains why, during the latest round of U.S.-Iran warfare, Iran did not attack Saudi Arabia’s mainland, while other Gulf states suffered varying degrees of strikes—including Oman, which had planned joint management of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. These countries themselves are not involved in fighting Iran, but their U.S. military bases have played a significant role.
Another major reason Iran hesitates to strike Saudi Arabia is that the core equipment of the Pakistani military is largely made in China, including J-10 fighter jets and PL-15 missiles. Should Iran clash with Pakistani forces, the situation would become far more complicated, making it difficult to bring the conflict to a close.
Naturally, the hardest position isn’t Iran’s—it’s Pakistan’s. The bilateral defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was signed last year, with no one anticipating what would unfold this year. With hostilities erupting, Pakistan must simultaneously honor its commitments while avoiding confrontation with Iran, forcing it to walk a tightrope carefully among all parties.
Now, with Kuwait seeking cooperation, Pakistan naturally proceeds with extreme caution. A Pakistani official admitted that, at present, Islamabad would absolutely not agree to deploy troops in Kuwait.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871034676025476/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.