Issues Before GCC Summit

The 30th annual GCC summit under way in Kuwait City has come at an unusual time. One of the six GCC member states, Saudi Arabia, is directly involved in the ongoing conflict in Yemen against the Houthi rebels. It marks a first in the history of the GCC since its formation in 1990.

Published: Wed 16 Dec 2009, 1:50 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 12:30 AM

While Yemen clearly tops the agenda, other regional issues are not lagging behind. The fate of Iran’s nuclear programme and impending sanctions is an important issue that the GCC member states are duly concerned about, considering the political ramifications to the region. Besides, the world economic crisis and regional implications is likely to dominate discussion during the summit that will also be participated by UAE ‘s President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayd al Nahyan.

The GCC’s financial woes in face of global economic meltdown had more or less been buffered over the past year. The GCC is lucky to have escaped the eye of the storm and there have been but few cases that caused a major financial upheaval. The recent Dubai debt issue that was targeted by a malevolent media campaign abroad has been positively resolved with the deft handling in a show of solidarity by Abu Dhabi, thus obviating the gloomy predictions of the downfall of the Emirate. It is expected that some major economic announcements are to be made at the Summit. These may include the launching of the GCC monetary union pact, a multi-billion dollar inter-GCC railway network and a joint power grid. These projects are important for furthering integration of the GCC bloc.

A deeper economic integration is likely to result in political consensus on strategic regional issues. Iraq continues to dominate regional concerns owing to its still fragile security that stands threatened by sectarianism and terrorism. Similarly, the continuing debacle of Palestine poses a bigger challenge. The GCC states have unanimously supported the withdrawal of Israel from Occupied Territories and a separate state for the Palestinian people in the past. It is likely that the present moot will reaffirm the commitment and call upon the United States to stand by its pledges to work towards a peaceful two-state solution.

The GCC, while opposing military strikes against Iran, is also concerned about any negative consequences that may result from perceived lopsided negotiations with the US that fail to address the regional concerns. The predominant concern among these states is that their primary security concerns will be ignored in the process of pursuing a deal with Tehran. Iran’s interventionist policies in the region — Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and now Yemen — and continued occupation of the UAE’s three islands of Abu Musa, Lower Tunb and Greater Tunb continue to mar relations with its GCC neighbours. The alleged Iranian support to the Shiite Houthi rebels in the North of Yemen has raised concerns about Iran’s negative role to another level.

With the outbreak of the Yemen conflict, many of the GCC states had previously expressed support to Yemeni President Ali Abdulla Saleh’s government. The Summit is likely to reaffirm that support. With the proliferation of terrorist cells in Yemen, there are direct implications for the  regional states.

It is hoped that the member states are able to settle respective reservations on major policies — political and economic —and reach a workable strategy in pushing forward a constructive policy on the regional and international level.