Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain

Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain
Part of Bahraini uprising of 2011
LocationBahrain
Belligerents

SANG
Thousands of protesters denouncing the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain in a march to the Saudi embassy in Manama on 15 March

Saudi led intervention in Bahrain's uprising began on 14 March 2011, three weeks after the U.S. pressured Bahrain to withdraw its military forces from the streets.[1] As a decision by Gulf Cooperation Council, the intervention included sending 1,000 (1,200[2]) troops along with vehicles from Saudi[1] at the invitation of the Al-Khalifa ruling family, marking the first time GCC used such a collective military option for suppressing a revolt.[2][3]

Although Bahraini leaders claimed that the uprising was an external affair by calling it "an Iranian conspiracy", they provided no evidence for their claim.[4] According to Guido Steinberg, although there are some connections between Iran and some of the Bahraini and Saudi Shia groups, "there is no evidence of Iranian hands behind this revolt," which is also confirmed by US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates.[5] Calling it an occupation[6] and a declaration of war, Bahrainis opposition pleaded for international help.[7][6] The intervention was precedented by 1994 Saudi intervention in Bahrain.[8]

Units involved

GCC responded to the request from Bahrain's Al-Khalifa by sending its Peninsula Shield Force.[9] The units sent from Saudi included 1,000 (1,200[2]) troops along with 150 vehicles. The vehicles included "wheeled, light-armored vehicles with roof-mounted heavy machine guns." Saudi soldiers were apparently from Saudi Arabian National Guard, commanded by a son of King Abdullah, Prince Miteb.[1] Also, 500 UAE policemen were sent via the causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.[5]

By 2014, 5,000 Saudi and Emirati forces and almost 7,000 American forces were positioned "less than 10 miles from the Pearl Roundabout, the center of the country’s protest movement."[4] To protect the khalifas, Kuwaitis also "sent their their navy to patrol the borders of" Bahrain.[4]

Goals

Bahrain's strategical importance to Saudi Arbian government is originated from economic, sectarian and geopolitical reasons.[10]

Sectarian & Geopolitical goals

According to The Guardian, the real purpose of the intervention was to stop "a growing rebellion by the kingdom's majority, but deprived, Shia citizens" by taking all necessary measures.[11] Death of an Emirati policeman, Tariq al-Shehi, made it clear that the foreign troops were in fact involved in putting down protests.[4] According to Nuruzzaman, the most important factor leading to Saudi'd intervention in Bahrain,[12] is "the domino effect of Bahrain’s fall into Shia hands.[12][13] Fearful of democratic change, Saudi king Abdullah aimed to reverse the pro-democracy movements in his neighbor countries using force.[12] Saudi Arbia maintained that the cause of unrest in Saudi's eastern province, is the Shia uprising in Bahrain. According to Steffen Hertog, a Saudi Arabia expert at the London School of Economics and Political Science, Saudi's move was a signal to Shia movements in the Eastern Province to express how seriously Saudi intends to crack down the unrest.[5]

Economical golas

The intervention was apparently carried out with the aim of guarding Bahrain's infrastructure such as oil fields,[4] According to Nuruzzaman, among the important factors leading to Saudi sending troops to Bahrain were "the possibility of the loss of oil fields, terminals and crude processing plants, the loss of investment and future investment prospects, shrinking business opportunities for Saudi business firms and corporations in the Gulf sub-region. Bahrain's economic, financial and military significance has turned it into a battle ground of the three powers, i.e. "Iran, on the one hand, and Saudi Arabia and the U.S., on the other." Any Saudi departure from Bahrain would also directly affect U.S. interests. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain’s largest trading partner, sent troops to Bahrain to pursue some economic goals.[12][10] Besides being an attractive tourism site for Saudi citizens, Bahrain was the target of enormous investments made by Saudi companies in its "huge development projects such as Amwaj Island, Durrat Al Bahrain, and Al Areen." Bahrain was also an "excellent financial services network" for Saudi's regional and global investments.[12]

Aftermath

Primarily interpreted by analysts "in terms of domestic and regional political and strategic dynamics," the intervention has created serious regional and global concerns[12] and has turned the uprising into a regional cold war. Among other factors, the foreign military intervention may drive the sectarianism.[14]

Reactions

See also

Saudi-led intervention in Yemen

References

  1. 1 2 3 Henderson, Simon. "Bahrain's Crisis: Saudi Forces Intervene". Washington Institute. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Bronner, Ethan; Slackman, Michael (14 March 2011). "Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest". New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Held, David; Ulrichsen, Kristian (2012). The transformation of the Gulf politics, economics and the global order. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781136698408. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Holmes, Amy Austin. "The military intervention that the world forgot". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Amies, Nick. "Saudi intervention in Bahrain increases Gulf instability". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Gulf States Send Force to Bahrain Following Protests". BBC News. 14 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Two Killed in Bahrain Violence Despite Martial Law". BBC News. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Staff writers. "Saudi Intervention in Bahrain". Stratfor. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Goldenberg, Ilan; G. Dalton, Melissa (2015). "Bridging the Gulf: how to fix U.S. relations with the GCC". Foreign Affairs. – via General OneFile (subscription required)
  10. 1 2 Bronson, Rachel. "SAUDI ARABIA’S INTERVENTION IN BAHRAIN: A NECESSARY EVIL OR A STRATEGIC BLUNDER?" (PDF). Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  11. ↑ Butler, William. "Saudi Arabian intervention in Bahrain driven by visceral Sunni fear of Shias". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nuruzzaman, Mohammed (2013). "Politics, Economics and Saudi Military Intervention in Bahrain" (PDF). Journal of Contemporary Asia 43. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  13. ↑ Staff writers. "Why Saudi Arabia Crushed the Democratic Uprising in Bahrain". ADHRB. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  14. ↑ Gengler, Justin. "How Bahrain’s crushed uprising spawned the Middle East’s sectarianism". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  15. ↑ Alam, Kamal. "Saudi Arabia Has Devastated Pakistan’s History of Religious Tolerance and Diversity". Muftah. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
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