This is an important book. Although international attention is focused on Ukraine and China, the Persian Gulf will remain vital to international stability and the global economy for many years to come. In New Military Strategies for the Gulf, Jean-Loup Samaan brings deep analysis and a reputation for cutting-edge scholarship to bear on the critical problem of security and stability in one of the most important regions on earth. Concise, informed and relevant, his findings and observations should inform and support both regional and international leaders as they search for answers and solutions to an enduringly complex set of Gulf challenges.

Dr. Richard D. Hooker, Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council, USA

An important contribution to the Gulf strategic studies literature. Jean-Loup Samaan convincingly demonstrates how efforts by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar to achieve greater autonomy and to project influence and power in a changing and challenging strategic environment have often fallen short, and in some cases deepened their dependence on outside powers.

Michael Eisenstadt, Director of the Military and Security Studies Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Superbly spanning the scholar practitioner boundary, Dr Samaan adds insight and clarity on issues that are usually poorly understood. A timely book, it offers a readable and rigorous account of critical developments in the military security sphere in the Gulf. It will be essential reading for those interested in security and defence developments in the broader Gulf region.

Dr David B Roberts, King's College London, UK

The regional and international political orientation of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries has shifted dramatically since the Arab Spring, and we need new tools and approaches to inform our analysis. Samaan's book fills a critical gap, explaining the political consequences of more robust military approaches to the Middle East from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This is an excellent contribution on an under-studied topic.

Jonathan Fulton, Assistant Professor, Zayed University, UAE