Gulf alliance on track to achieve objectives

This year's GCC Summit — hosted by Kuwait, which was occupied and pillaged by Iraq less than two decades ago — was a reminder of the GCC's collective vulnerability.

The summit, which was billed as "hope for the future" and "a blessed brick" by Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, was an opportunity for leaders to reflect on their mission and the challenges they have faced since the GCC's inception in 1981. The council was initiated as a result of defence concerns and a desire to achieve closer integration, and ultimately unity, in the most oil-rich region in the world.

Many of the issues tackled in Kuwait had to do with economic and security concerns. One of the former involved endorsing the Gulf monetary union, laying the groundwork for the launch of a common currency. Four of the six GCC member countries are founding members, with the hope being that the UAE and Oman will join further down the road. There was also discussion around efforts to strengthen the joint GCC market, launched two years ago at the Doha summit. The landmark achievement, however, was a message of solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its war against the Al Houthi rebels. Shaikh Sabah made it clear in his opening remarks that an attack on Saudi Arabia is an attack on all the GCC states. Another significant achievement was the inauguration of the first of three phases of the joint power grid project. This will allow average GCC citizens to feel that something tangible was achieved.

However, the major challenge continues to be the GCC's lack of a serious breakthrough in terms of security and defence integration. This is a goal that has eluded the alliance since its inception.

The summit took place at a critical juncture, with the region and the world facing multiple crises all at once. The international economic crisis took its toll on the GCC states, and Dubai's restructuring challenges are a reminder of this. And then there is the Al Houthi insurgency in Yemen, which has spilled over into Saudi Arabia, and has consequences for Gulf security.

Iraq and Iran

The security dilemma that the GCC states face stems from their need to balance the two major regional powers, Iraq and Iran. To do so, the GCC states have dramatically increased their military capabilities. A recent US Congress report indicated that Saudi Arabia was the leading buyer of arms from the US, while the UAE ranked second. Between 2005 and 2008, Saudi Arabia purchased military equipment worth $11.2 billion (Dh41.1 billion). During the same period, the UAE purchased equipment worth $10 billion. Little wonder then that the GCC states are among the world leaders in terms of military spending per capita and cost per soldier.

This is the first summit since Iraq occupied Kuwait two decades ago when a member of the GCC Saudia Arabia, fighting the Al Houthi rebels has been involved in a significant conflict. The GCC has long sought to create a credible deterrent force. However, the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait showed the GCC's limitations in this regard.

It was therefore a welcome development when GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah announced at the end of the Kuwait summit that the leaders had agreed to create joint forces to be rapidly deployed in times of security threats, upheavals or instability faced by member countries, similar to what Saudi Arabia is facing today. Although this development is overdue, it is a step in the right direction. Its success depends on the unwavering commitment of the GCC members. Failing this, the fate of the Rapid Deployment Force will not be dissimilar to that of its predecessor, Peninsula Shield, which was dismantled a couple of years ago.

Naturally, the summit also addressed some of the recurring issues that are routinely discussed. These included Iraq and its unstable state of affairs; Iran and its showdown with the international community over its nuclear programme; and the stalled Middle East peace process.

Perhaps above all, this summit served as a reminder that the GCC states must resolve their differences. Positive developments in this regard included the launch of the joint power grid, the approval of plans to create a pan-Gulf rail authority, Qatar relenting and agreeing to accept the Bahraini candidate for the next GCC secretary general and plans to create joint rapid deployment forces. However, there is much work yet to be done. There is a need for the GCC to reach a consensus on Iraq and Iran. Ideally, the bloc should formulate a common foreign policy.

We in the Gulf have to remember that we live in a dangerous and uncertain time and in a tough neighbourhood. Failure to cooperate more closely together could have dire consequences.

- Dr Abdullah Alshayji is a professor of political science at Kuwait University.