Gulf Arab states are understandably jittery about possible environmental damage. They fear that they will face retaliation if military action is undertaken, especially if such actions focus on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Now worries are chiefly trained on Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant located in Bushehr. This facility as of today is very shockingly much closer to a number of U.S.-allied Arab capitals than it is to Tehran proper.
Regional leaders have expressed their concerns about the impact that a potential strike would have on the Bushehr facility. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed cautioned about the dangers of “reckless and miscalculated actions that could extend beyond the borders” of Iran and Israel. His comments do illustrate the high stakes. Any new military engagement would lead to devastating fallout for Lebanon and Israel at a minimum.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani expressed a stark warning regarding the fallout from an attack on the Bushehr nuclear plant. He issued a dire warning, stating that if someone blew up the facility, it would instantly poison our water supply. This catastrophe would melt away every drop of water, every fish, and every living thing from the region. Such a catastrophic event would impact almost 60 million people across Gulf Arab nations who rely heavily on desalinated seawater from the Persian Gulf for their daily needs.
The harsh and very real reality of water scarcity in the high desert adds an urgent layer of concern to these concerns. Indeed, the Qatari Prime Minister pointed out that their entire water supply is derived from desalinated seawater. Specifically, he noted the vulnerability that Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE share in this manipulation. He noted, “We don’t have rivers and we don’t have water reserves. Basically, the country would run out of water in three days.”
Bahrain is moving to defuse tensions amidst escalating concerns of a direct military conflict. The country has begun emergency preparedness measures by establishing 33 refugee shelters and conducting national siren tests. The Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson went even further, threatening dire repercussions. They cautioned that these “uncalculated” attacks not only threatened the safety of Gulf nations but also their waters. This forward-looking approach speaks to a regional recognition of the imperative that exists for readiness in the face of increasing tensions.
Elham Fakhro, a resident of Bahrain, articulated the prevalent anxiety among citizens, stating, “Everyone is stressed out … and it’s becoming very real.” She stressed that toxic pollution in our common waters is the real issue. This makes clear just how much pollution binds together the Gulf states in terms of ecological danger.
The potential repercussions extend beyond environmental threats. On the issue of pre-emptive U.S. military action against Iran, the country has sent an unmistakable message. It would respond with attacks on U.S. assets in the region. This represents a direct threat to the state of Bahrain. The country is home to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, which would make it a likely target should war break out.
Yet in spite of these worries, many expatriates seem rather unconcerned about their safety. An American woman living in Abu Dhabi remarked, “I don’t feel worried or concerned, I have an unwavering trust in my safety here.” Excitement is not the overwhelming sentiment among residents, most of whom feel more apprehensive about the potential consequences of military involvement.
Gulf states operate in a often disparately polarized and perilous geopolitical environment. They remain magnets for both businesses and expatriates, offering such lures as no income tax and world-class compensation packages. Even this glamour is eclipsed by a reality growing more dangerous with an escalation in military posturing.
