Air/Missile Defense, Counterproliferation and Security Policy Planning

On 29-31 March 1998, IFPA and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) held a workshop in Abu Dhabi entitled "Air/Missile Defense, Counterproliferation and Security Policy Planning: Implications for Collaboration between the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the Gulf Coperation Council Countries." The U.S. delegation was headed by General Anthony Zinni, U.S. Marine Corps and commander in chief of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The GCC delegation was formed under the patronage of Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, chief of the Armed Forces Staff, UAE.

From General Zinni's opening keynote remarks through the three days of workshop discussions, participants focused on the evolving regional security planning environment, emphasizing the growth of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), ballistic missile, and advanced air-breathing threats to countries of the GCC. From the outset, it was clear that there exists no consensus on existing and prospective threats to the countries of the region, although for the moment, depending on the specifics of each country's geostrategic situation, guarding against any flexing of muscles by Iran and Iraq forms the basis for much of the security planning of GCC nations.

 

Presentations delivered at the workshop were substantially revised and updated in fall 1998 and compiled into a volume entitled Air/Missile Defense, Counterproliferation and Security Policy Planning.