As I see it | Iran war exposes the risks of being a US ally

Since Israel and the United States launched their illegal and disastrous war against Iran, some Western apologists for this axis of aggression have dragged China into their propaganda. They say the war exposes how unreliable and useless China is as an ally and partner because it is nowhere to be found in Iran’s hour of need.

The question is not whether Beijing should stick out its neck. No one wants to get involved in this potentially catastrophic war. That includes America’s Nato allies, which have been making excuses, including denying or stalling US access to their military bases and airspace for transit operations.

Remember the Europeans are formal military allies with decades-long mutual security guarantees. China has no such commitment with anyone, with the possible exception of North Korea.

China prefers to trade with partners and help them build physical and telecommunications infrastructure. The US sells its allies and partners weapons to enrich its military-industrial complex and make them partners in crime to bomb America’s or Israel’s enemies. That is the real issue; as the quote widely attributed to Henry Kissinger goes, “To be an enemy of America is dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.”

From Oman to Kuwait, virtually all the Gulf states have been dragged into the war and attacked by Iran almost as soon as the shooting started. As a tactical move, Tehran has apologised to its Arab neighbours, but they all knew they would be terribly exposed in any renewal of hostility between Iran and the US and Israel. That is the price you pay when you get too close to the axis of naked aggression.

During an episode of Amanpour and Company last week, host Christiane Amanpour asked Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former top Saudi official, about Arab Gulf states: “Is hosting American bases a long-term, viable situation any more, do you think? Can you all trust America and its defensive posture for you?”