The current situation in the Arab world compelled the GCC countries to activate their foreign policy and play a strong role in the critical issues and major events.

Today, the Gulf nations have developed a common foreign policy towards many issues, such as Bahrain and the military and political participation in the international coalition in enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.

They have also adopted a unified political position towards the Iranian threat as well as GCC mediation in Yemen. It is true that each Gulf nation has its own circumstances — a fact that warrants an independent foreign policy. However, coordinating their stance on major issues of common interests remains a strategic necessity.

More importunately, the GCC countries should have a clear political project in the next stage, regardless of whether they sometimes differ in their political visions and practices. This is simply because it would be impossible for all GCC countries to have identical views on all affairs, and hence it would be wrong that the Gulf states adopt the same foreign policy on each issue.

This can be applied to issues that are not related to the GCC national security, and thus each country has the right to handle them in its own way and manner. Nevertheless, the current regional situation and its consequences call for a swift response and speedier coordination among Gulf countries, so as to come up with a strong political position.

As much as we need a quick and positive response from key international players, we also need swift action towards regional events.

Future of Yemen

The Yemeni crisis is very complex, thus neighbouring countries in the Arabian peninsula must be extremely concerned with its effects.

Apart from the current political crisis in Yemen, the GCC countries have always been concerned about the poverty, unemployment, political games and the complete absence of development projects in that country, which have been affecting the Gulf region as a whole. Therefore, the GCC is concerned about the future of Yemen, which is more complicated than the Iranian threat.

Many questions arise here: Is there a Gulf consensus on the existence of an Iranian threat? What is the best way to deal with it? Is it necessary for GCC countries to adopt a unified political position towards Iran?

On the local level, the GCC states today face a major challenge in bridging the sectarian gap, which has recently been widened by the Bahraini crisis. It would not be possible for the GCC countries to unify their efforts in the face of external and foreign threats if they are occupied with their domestic crises.

So, they need to achieve social peace first so as to be able to deal with external threats with confidence and competence — a strategic goal that requires the Gulf states to swiftly and seriously take action to put their own house in order.

It is unfair that a segment of the society, regardless of its size, experiences marginalisation, oppression or injustice. In order to block the way for any interference in the Gulf region, all components of society should be engaged in a comprehensive national project, under which all citizens are equal in rights and duties. We first need to ensure the safety, integrity and strength on the internal front, so as to take joint action with regard to common issues related to GCC national security.

It is important to mention that the goal is not to merge foreign policies of GCC countries to the extent they have a single foreign policy — I am not one of those who call for a comprehensive GCC unity that involves merger of policies or foreign ministries.

In my opinion, consolidating cooperation among GCC countries is a strategic necessity so as to enhance inter-GCC relations in the best interests of the people. However, divergence in policies towards, and political relations with, the outside world will benefit the whole region in the long run. This constructive difference has led to several good examples of development. Distribution of roles among Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha will be in the interest of GCC countries.

And this does not contradict the call for having a common stance and working jointly towards major issues.

For instance, the European Union (EU) coming together as a bloc does not indicate an end to European diversity and independent stances by member states at the economic, technical and cultural levels — the foreign, interior and defence ministries in EU countries were not scrapped.

Cooperation does not mean total merger or absolute domination as most Arabs believe. Today, the GCC countries seem effective and influential in their foreign policies regarding regional crises. Is this the fruit of the recent revolution in Egypt? Have the GCC countries felt that it is time for them to lead, and not be led? The most important question is: Are we witnessing the emergence of a common Gulf political project that strengthens common stances towards common threats?

Sulaiman Al Hattlan, a former Nieman Fellow at Harvard, is the host of Gulf Talks on Al Hurra TV.