CONCEPT – GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC)

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CONCEPT – GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC)

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• The GCC: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, consists of all of the Arab states within the Persian Gulf, excluding Iraq. The members of the GCC are: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC was established on May 25 1981. Purpose is to facilitate broad economic, social, military, and cultural cooperation throughout the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
• Why GCC? The reasoning for the formulation of this council was to address together the security concerns and protect themselves from the Iran-Iraq war.  The main objectives for this cooperative union are broad and include:

1. Collaboration in science and technology sectors
2. The establishment of scientific research facilities for collaboration on research
3. Military unity and strength
4. Increased economic cooperation in the private sectors
5. The establishment of a common currency (this goal was to be met by 2010, and has yet to be accomplished)

• Structure and operations: The council holds meetings regularly and coordinates decision making between all members.  The Presidency of the council rotates annually and in 2014 the Presidency belonged to Kuwait.  The GCC officially recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization on March 1, 2016. The action was prompted by Hezbollah attempting to recruit fighters and smuggle weapons and drugs within GCC states.
• With the US: Members of the GCC and officials from the U.S. hold a yearly meeting known as the GCC-U.S. Strategic Cooperation Forum (SCF), in order to coordinate various activities and enhance cooperation between all parties involved. The SCF was formed in 2012, and normally occurs in tandem with United Nations General Assembly meetings.
• Military Cooperation: In December 2000 the GCC states signed a joint defense agreement stating that any threat against a member state would be considered a threat against all member states and addressed as such.  The military aspect of the GCC's cooperation is named Peninsula Shield Force, and it's purpose is to deter military action against any member state and provide military coordination should an attack occur.  3 years after the creation of the GCC it was decided that the time had come to create a unified military force to provide security for the region.  
• Relations With Israel: In the face of the threat from radical Islam coming from Iran and Iraq, an unlikely partnership has been forged over the years between Israel and the GCC members.  A convergence of geopolitical interests and a mutual desire for trade and security is driving Israel and the Arab states of the GCC into a closer interdependent relationship.  Although Israel no longer maintains official diplomatic relations with the states of the gulf and considers Saudi Arabia an enemy of the state, the Israelis and the GCC members have been maintaining engagement under the radar since the 1990's.
• Israel and Oman: In 1996 Israel and Oman signed a mutual trade agreement for the opening of respective trade offices within each other's borders.  Following this, Israel trade offices were opened in Oman and Qatar but these cooperative ties did not last.  After the second Intifada in late 2000, GCC member Oman felt that the tides of public opinion were turning against Israel and suspended relations between the two countries.  
• Stresses within the GCC: Ever since relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar soured, the GCC has headed south! Qatar is being blockaded by the Saudis, but instead of caving it, it is going ahead with building better relations with Iran and Turkey. The 2018 Summit Meeting of GCC was a near flop.

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