Strategic plan for the Persian Gulf region: Options for deterring and/or defeating an emerging threat. Master's thesis

Technical Report · Thu Dec 17 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6546183

Ward, M W

The Persian Gulf region is, in all likelihood, going to remain crucial to American interests through the next several decades. The world depends on the petroleum reserves of the Gulf region to fuel its economic engine. The recent history of the region has been rife with conflict, and the U.S. has had to intervene militarily on several occasions to ensure its vital interests were protected. This thesis examines the strategic circumstances in the Gulf region and ways in which American political, diplomatic, and military policy can help shape the environment to conform to its interests. Several scenarios are developed which attempt to forecast the results of different environments on regional stability. The thesis reaches the conclusion that the United States must take a proactive role if its short- and long-term interests are to be protected. The short-term goal of U.S. policy must be to maintain a balance of power and regional correlation of forces which serves to deter any would-be aggressor nations. In the long run, the United States must seek a comprehensive regional peace. Various methods of achieving these goals are examined....Persian Gulf, Arms Proliferation, Strategic Planning, Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, Regional Deterrence, Middle East, Arms Control, Scenario Development, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Regional Security Strategy.

• Research Organization: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6546183
• Report Number(s): AD-A-261822/1/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
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ARABIAN SEA
ARMS CONTROL
ASIA
BALANCE OF POWER
COOPERATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
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INDUSTRY
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PERSIAN GULF
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
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REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RISK ASSESSMENT
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USA