The GCC and Gulf security

Abstract

The states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – which encompasses Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Oman – face a new and more uncertain strategic environment. Under these circumstances, they might be expected to band together more tightly. This, however, is not yet the case. Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Oman all maintain bilateral ties to the United States and privilege that relationship over their multilateral GCC obligations. Each country has sought the security of an external guarantor in the form of the United States, rather than in the enhancement of the collective capabilities of the GCC itself.