Israel Matzav

Obama's weakness spurs Persian Gulf arms race

London's Daily Telegraph reports that the Obama administration's unwillingness to stop Iran is spurring an arms race in the Persian Gulf.

Gulf states believe Iran's main strategic aim is to become the dominant power in the oil-rich region. As the West shows itself unable to prevent Iran developing its nuclear programme, they are determined to arm themselves.

The refusal by Iran to agree a deal to send most of its enriched uranium abroad would only spur arms sales further, said Theodore Karasik, director of research at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.

"The threat perception is definitely about Iran," he said.

Arms companies were in buoyant mood at last week's Dubai air show particularly in comparison to the civilian air industry, which is suffering from a credit crunch-induced slump in passenger numbers.

BAE Systems, Britain's biggest arms manufacturer, is currently delivering to Saudi Arabia an order for 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which it makes as part of a European consortium.

Defence spending in the kingdom is projected to rise from $43.52 billion this year (pounds 26.17 billion) to $47.4 billion (pounds 28.5billion) in 2010.

But other Gulf states are catching up.

...

The United Arab Emirates is now the third largest arms importer in the world, after China and India, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

It confirmed it was in the final stages of negotiating a deal with France to replace 63 Mirage jets with Dassault Rafale fighters. It also agreed to buy two reconnaissance aircraft from the Swedish company Saab, whose biggest stake is held by BAE Systems, as well as 25 Swiss trainer aircraft.

It has also applied to the United States to buy a $7 billion Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system.

What could go wrong? Read the whole thing.

The picture at the top is an Iranian missile being launched.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:53 PM