Britain’s Role in the Security Construct for the Persian Gulf

Abstract

The British withdrawal of 1968 is seen as the end of British influence and involvement in the Persian Gulf. Seeing how their presence in the Gulf was vital to the security and stability of the region, one is left with questions to why the region continued to remain stable after the withdrawal. Literature brings into discussion a transition from British to American influence in the region. However, it can be argued that this answer is somewhat unsatisfactory. Thus, this study investigates the role played by Her Majesty’s Government in the conception and maintenance of a security construct for the Persian Gulf, based on the ‘Pax Britannica’ model, which filed the British void between 1968 and 1980.