CFR 10/8 Global Affairs Expert Webinar: U.S. Gulf Relations and the Strait of Hormuz

Instability in the Strait of Hormuz highlights the vulnerability of global energy systems, where Iran leverages geographic bottlenecks to exert coercive power without requiring physical closure. While Gulf states pursue redundancy through bypass pipelines, these workarounds merely shift the bottleneck and increase dependence on U.S. intelligence and defense. Simultaneously, the long-standing security-for-oil doctrine is eroding as Gulf nations increasingly hedge their strategic partnerships, turning toward China for economic and technological cooperation. A proposed U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement offers a potential mechanism to stabilize these relations, providing a century-long framework for energy security and nonproliferation. Restoring American influence requires a shift from transactional diplomacy to sustained, strategic engagement, as the current geopolitical environment demands a nuanced approach to managing regional security and preventing the expansion of conflict across interconnected infrastructure networks.