Considering the severity and the numberof the crises, threats and challenges in the perilous Arabian Gulf region, it was reassuring that the GCC leadership buried the hatchet and made up, after the longest self-inflicted wound organisation suffered since its inception in 1981 as a collective security bloc. The GCC, unfortunately, has not lived up to that tall order.

In the final analysis, there were no losers; it was a win–win outcome. The GCC leadership succeeded through a collective effort under the mediation of the veteran trouble-shooter, the Emir of Kuwait Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad AlSabah, the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and the accommodating role played by the UAE leadership. The rational input from the young Qatari Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani also helped to deliver the much needed reconciliation for the strongest and healthiest organ in the frail Arab political body.

Gulf states have shown a keen appreciation of the severity of the regional crises and put their collective strategic interests over their bickering, and divergent views. They have concluded that a united GCC front was lacking and was much needed at this juncture.

Since the crisis erupted in March 2014, all has not been well within the alliance. But the GCC as a collective defence organisation has failed over the last three decades to live up to the expectations of its leaders and people alike. It has been bogged down by acrimonious friction, differences, divergence and varying priorities, wherein not all members necessarily see eye-to-eye. This has weakened its collective security objectives.

But no one would have guessed that it would involve Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain withdrawing their ambassadors and threatening more punitive actions against Qatar. The three states had warned Doha that its policy and approach was undermining their security and the stability of the region. This was unprecedented.

But it took too long to patch things up and reconcile. Kuwait, led by its Emir, who also happens to occupy the rotating chairmanship of both the GCC and the Arab League presidencies, has been engaged in diplomacy to reconcile the differences and bridge the gap between the four states, with Oman helping in the mediating efforts behind the scenes.

After stormy eight-months of bickering, at one point, there were fears that things will come to head. But sober heads prevailed and the wise leaders were able to steer the GCC clear. They managed a soft landing on November 16, putting the GCC back on track. It is hoped that lessons of this ordeal have been digested by all.

This reconciliation has come at an opportune time because there is an urgent need for the GCC states to regain the leadership role in the Arab political system, wherein they have been the de facto leaders for the past few years. It is a well known that there has been a shift in the strategic landscape of the Arab world.

The role of the traditional powerhouses — Egypt, Iraq and Syria — has been eclipsed by the new heart, the GCC states, which are no longer relegated to the periphery. In terms of exhibiting a leadership role, leading the Cold War against Iran, spearheading the Arab political system against the Bashar Al Assad regime for its brutality, the GCC has done well. It also played a leading role in Libya, and financially helped Egypt.

The reconciliation among the GCC states is a welcome move, the lessons have been learned, the need today is for them to collaborate and act in unison to deter their enemies, as the US — the only viable protector of the GCC partners — seems distracted with different priorities.

The GCC must steadfastly strive to learn the lessons from that dispute and move forward in this precarious region.

 

— Professor Abdullah Al Shayji is the former chairman of the Political Science Department, Kuwait University. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Middle East Centre in George Washington University. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@docshayji