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Ever since fighting broke out between Iran and Iraq more than four years ago, six countries on the Persian Gulf--Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates--have been concerned about the potential threat the war poses to their oil interests. The heads of those nations, which formed the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981, met last week to take out a sort of insurance policy against any damaging spillover from the war. After a three-day meeting in Kuwait's palatial conference hall, built especially for this summit, the leaders announced plans for the creation of an estimated 2,000-to 3,000-man rapid deployment force, which could operate under a unified command based in Saudi Arabia.

The decision to form the force is evidence of the gulf states' rising concern about security in the region. At last week's meeting the leaders also confirmed an earlier pledge to spend more than $ 1 billion to improve air defenses in the southeastern part of the gulf, where Iranian planes have concentrated their recent attacks on oil tankers. In Washington, reaction to the announcements was favorable. According to one senior official, the U.S. "welcomes any effort to enhance the security and stability of the gulf."