Defence policy of Persian Gulf states

This file concerns defence policy in the Persian Gulf. It contains correspondence and memoranda relating to:

• The President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's visit to Iran between 6 and 9 December 1975, including a summary of points made during Sheikh Zayed’s talks with the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, such as: the security of the Gulf region should be ensured through the cooperation between the littoral states without foreign interference; true and lasting peace in the Middle East could only be achieved if effect was given to the UN resolution of calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Arab territories; the transformation of the Indian Ocean into a zone of peace, free from superpower rivalries; and all nations should be able to freely exploit their own natural resources, and have access to the most up-to-date world technology
• An article in Pravda on 4 November 1975, discussing imperialist attempts to create conflicts in South Arabia and undermine the possibilities of a settlement for the Arab-Israeli problem
• The question of whether Iraq should be considered a Gulf State; and the Ruler of Bahrain Amir Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa’s visit to Baghdad to discuss: the freedom of navigation and the protection of maritime rights, relations between Iraq and other Gulf States, the ‘two-faced’ nature of Iraqi policy, and Iraqi-Bahraini relations
• Foreign policy principles of the South Yemen (PDYR)
• The Minister of State’s visit to Iraq, including reference to the Iran-Iraq agreement – the two Rulers' decision to settle their border dispute to stop subversive infringements of the borders, and to establish links of friendship and good neighbourliness
• Kuwait’s concern over détente in the Middle East
• A cutting in the Tehran newspaper, entitled ‘Key Iran-Turkey role in regional security’, dated 29 October 1975
• The Bahrain Foreign Minister Mohammad Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa’s visit to London to discuss: decisions to dissolve the National Assembly, US military presence in the Gulf, and Gulf security
• Iraq’s Gulf policy; a cutting from the Financial Times, concerning Iraq’s consideration of a Gulf security pact which guaranteed freedom of navigation in the area), 17 July 1975; King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan’s interest in the proposal to establish a Gulf security pact; An Iraqi draft for an agreement on Gulf navigation; and attempts to establish a new regime entitled ‘transit passage’, for the unimpeded passage of straits used for international navigation connecting two parts of the high seas
• Press coverage of Prince Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud’s visit to Iran in July 1975
• An extract from the Iraqi President Ahmad Hasan Al Bakr’s speech regarding Iraq’s foreign relations
• King Hussein’s views on Gulf security
• The prospects of a settlement between Oman and the PDRY
• President Bakr's call for: a stronger unity between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) countries, a northern military front and stronger Jordanian and Egyptian fronts
• Saudi Arabian-Bahrain joint military exercises
• Kuwait’s intention to continue to strengthen its military capability, despite the reductions in tension in the Gulf