How Do Gulf States Balance U.S. Military Ties With the Risk of Retaliation?

Several Gulf countries have close security relationships with the United States, but they also have to consider how a conflict with Iran could affect their own territory and residents. Hosting foreign forces can bring security benefits while making a country part of the strategic calculations of both sides.

How do these governments weigh those competing pressures during a crisis? I’m especially interested in whether their public statements, base-access decisions, or airspace policies can meaningfully limit their exposure.