Defence diplomacy of Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar

Abstract

Defence diplomacy has emerged as a pivotal area of study in the post-Cold War era, predominantly centered on the activities of major global powers. However, there is a notable research gap when it comes to the defence diplomacy practices of smaller states. This thesis aims to bridge this gap by examining the defence diplomacy activities of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar from 1990 to 2023, thereby shedding light on the nuanced differences and unique approaches undertaken by these nations.
Adopting a qualitative research methodology, this study uses a variety of data sources, including government documents, books, media publications, online articles and websites.
The findings reveal a complex tapestry of defence diplomacy that varies significantly among the three countries. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar have each developed distinctive strategies that reflect their unique geopolitical imperatives, security concerns, and regional ambitions. defence.
As for my research question, what are the similarities and differences between the defence diplomacy activities have Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, to assess the similarities and differences between the defence diplomacy activities of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, I’ve created a table and did a comparative analysis. The three GCC states were doing many activities when it comes to provision of military advisors and trainers to a foreign state and in provision of funds to a foreign military. Also, I noticed that the three states have low-level involvement in allowing foreign states to base their equipment.
As for my research question, how the list of defence diplomacy activities undertaking by Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar compare with the literature on defence diplomacy tasks, and what does this indicate about Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, to answer this question, I’ve created a table which shows the expanded list of defence diplomacy activities that were mentioned in the literature, comparing to the right column that show the defence diplomacy activites were undertaken by the three GCC countries of Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The table compares the defence diplomacy activities of these countries with those outlined in defence diplomacy literature. It finds both similarities and differences in practices, such as the appointment of defence attaches and bilateral cooperation agreements. The GCC countries' defence diplomacy strategies reflect their specific circumstances and interests, prioritizing formal military-to-military interactions and high-level negotiations over grassroots engagement. This focus aligns with their regional security concerns and objectives, which may not necessitate extensive civilian interactions.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Athol Yates (Supervisor)