Dr Mohamed Kirat
By Dr Mohamed Kirat
The GCC Summit in Doha is probably one of most important in the alliance’s history because of the serious challenges facing the Council. For those who had doubts about the Doha summit taking place, events proved the contrary and the six Gulf countries showed their determination to stick together to face the challenges surrounding them. The serious challenges facing the six GCC countries required them to put their differences aside at the Doha meeting. The Qatari Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said at the annual gathering that “against the dangers and challenges that surround us on all sides, we cannot be sidetracked by differences over details”.
If you work within a body composed of six countries you have no choice but to forget about solo or individual approaches and strategies. The huge challenges facing the GCC alliance include the effect on the Gulf of the US-led negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme, the growing threat of ISIL and other forms of terrorism in Syria and Iraq, and escalating crises in countries like Yemen.
How to adopt a unified policy to handle these issues was perhaps the main problem facing the GCC heads of state gathering in Doha. This goal seemed especially difficult to achieve after the outbreak of Arab uprisings that polarised the GCC members. Interference by regional and global powers — the US, Russia, Iran, Israel and Turkey — has exacerbated the situation in the region, culminating in the removal of Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi last year and the ensuing crackdown on Islamist organisations across many Arab countries. Now that the GCC’s internal differences and positions have been resolved and the UAE, Saudi and Bahraini ambassadors have returned to Doha, the question is whether the GCC can end the polarisation over other Arab countries, particularly Egypt. The Doha summit was held in very difficult circumstances as the GCC countries face the rising threat of ISIL and sliding oil prices. The meeting reaffirmed the reconciliation with Qatar announced in Riyadh last month.
The GCC is facing the ISIL threat, which is not far from Gulf borders. In addition, Iran’s influence is extending over Yemen with the Houthis taking more power every day. The US is normalising its relations with Iran through nuclear talks and the fight against ISIL. This can be done at the expense of the GCC countries and may be a threat in the long run. This year has been one of the GCC’s most critical periods in its history, with an eight-month dispute among four of its members. Whether it has successfully dealt with this will be put to the test in its policies on Egypt, which is still facing violence and division, as well as over the formulation of a unified stance on the Syrian crisis.
After a difficult year, the Doha summit opened a new era of Gulf reconciliation, integration and solidarity. By putting their differences aside, the summit has sent a message that the GCC countries look forward to a new era of enhanced Gulf unity. The Gulf countries have overcome the most difficult crises in the alliance’s history, but they still have to respond to tough challenges, both at home and abroad. Sliding oil prices is a though test for the GCC countries. Moreover, the world is witnessing huge changes, with the US avoiding getting involved in Middle Eastern issues and focusing more on the Asia-Pacific region. Strengthening GCC security and moving from cooperation to a union capable of boosting the Gulf’s clout on the international arena top the list of domestic challenges. There is also Russia’s re-emergence as global player and the rise of China, both of which will have consequences globally and regionally. There is also Iran’s expanding role and its nuclear programme, along with Turkey’s rising power in a region that lacks a powerful Arab counterbalance. These factors threaten the GCC countries, leaving them no choice but to reinforce their political, economic and military ties. The initiative of creating a joint military command agreed in the Doha meeting is part of these efforts and can serve the transition to the goal of becoming a union. Extremist groups, sectarian strife and demographics — Gulf citizens are minorities in their own countries — pose a real danger to stability and require concerted action. Unity is the best way to do that. The GCC will form a regional police force based in Abu Dhabi, and a joint naval force based out of Bahrain. The police force, to be known as GCC-Pol, and naval force were announced at the Doha summit. The GCC leaders said a joint military command would also be formed after further discussions.
Qatar joined its fellow GCC members at the summit in supporting Egypt under president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, indicating an end to months-long conflict over Doha’s backing of the Muslim Brotherhood. GCC leaders announced their “full support to Egypt, the government and people in achieving its stability and prosperity”, and for Al Sisi. The rapprochement that began last month underlines the GCC’s consensus on the urgent need to address the growing extremism that threatens to destabilise the region. Arabian Gulf states have “no choice but to face terrorism”, Qatar’s Emir told fellow leaders at the summit’s opening. Sheikh Tamim told his guests at the Doha summit that “Terrorism prevention is better than trying to cure it after it expands,” . The slow pace of many GCC projects — including a political union, common currency, and more intertwined economies — meant regional observers were unsure what would become of the group’s military ambitions. But now, with several of the GCC countries taking part in air strikes on ISIL militants in northern Syria, forming a joint force has gained new impetus. Given the many developments at all levels in the region and worldwide, GCC countries cannot afford any disputes or differences. On the contrary they have to double their efforts to face the challenges they are encountering regionally and globally.
The writer is a professor of public relations and Mass Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University.
By Dr Mohamed Kirat
The GCC Summit in Doha is probably one of most important in the alliance’s history because of the serious challenges facing the Council. For those who had doubts about the Doha summit taking place, events proved the contrary and the six Gulf countries showed their determination to stick together to face the challenges surrounding them. The serious challenges facing the six GCC countries required them to put their differences aside at the Doha meeting. The Qatari Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said at the annual gathering that “against the dangers and challenges that surround us on all sides, we cannot be sidetracked by differences over details”.
If you work within a body composed of six countries you have no choice but to forget about solo or individual approaches and strategies. The huge challenges facing the GCC alliance include the effect on the Gulf of the US-led negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme, the growing threat of ISIL and other forms of terrorism in Syria and Iraq, and escalating crises in countries like Yemen.
How to adopt a unified policy to handle these issues was perhaps the main problem facing the GCC heads of state gathering in Doha. This goal seemed especially difficult to achieve after the outbreak of Arab uprisings that polarised the GCC members. Interference by regional and global powers — the US, Russia, Iran, Israel and Turkey — has exacerbated the situation in the region, culminating in the removal of Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi last year and the ensuing crackdown on Islamist organisations across many Arab countries. Now that the GCC’s internal differences and positions have been resolved and the UAE, Saudi and Bahraini ambassadors have returned to Doha, the question is whether the GCC can end the polarisation over other Arab countries, particularly Egypt. The Doha summit was held in very difficult circumstances as the GCC countries face the rising threat of ISIL and sliding oil prices. The meeting reaffirmed the reconciliation with Qatar announced in Riyadh last month.
The GCC is facing the ISIL threat, which is not far from Gulf borders. In addition, Iran’s influence is extending over Yemen with the Houthis taking more power every day. The US is normalising its relations with Iran through nuclear talks and the fight against ISIL. This can be done at the expense of the GCC countries and may be a threat in the long run. This year has been one of the GCC’s most critical periods in its history, with an eight-month dispute among four of its members. Whether it has successfully dealt with this will be put to the test in its policies on Egypt, which is still facing violence and division, as well as over the formulation of a unified stance on the Syrian crisis.
After a difficult year, the Doha summit opened a new era of Gulf reconciliation, integration and solidarity. By putting their differences aside, the summit has sent a message that the GCC countries look forward to a new era of enhanced Gulf unity. The Gulf countries have overcome the most difficult crises in the alliance’s history, but they still have to respond to tough challenges, both at home and abroad. Sliding oil prices is a though test for the GCC countries. Moreover, the world is witnessing huge changes, with the US avoiding getting involved in Middle Eastern issues and focusing more on the Asia-Pacific region. Strengthening GCC security and moving from cooperation to a union capable of boosting the Gulf’s clout on the international arena top the list of domestic challenges. There is also Russia’s re-emergence as global player and the rise of China, both of which will have consequences globally and regionally. There is also Iran’s expanding role and its nuclear programme, along with Turkey’s rising power in a region that lacks a powerful Arab counterbalance. These factors threaten the GCC countries, leaving them no choice but to reinforce their political, economic and military ties. The initiative of creating a joint military command agreed in the Doha meeting is part of these efforts and can serve the transition to the goal of becoming a union. Extremist groups, sectarian strife and demographics — Gulf citizens are minorities in their own countries — pose a real danger to stability and require concerted action. Unity is the best way to do that. The GCC will form a regional police force based in Abu Dhabi, and a joint naval force based out of Bahrain. The police force, to be known as GCC-Pol, and naval force were announced at the Doha summit. The GCC leaders said a joint military command would also be formed after further discussions.
Qatar joined its fellow GCC members at the summit in supporting Egypt under president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, indicating an end to months-long conflict over Doha’s backing of the Muslim Brotherhood. GCC leaders announced their “full support to Egypt, the government and people in achieving its stability and prosperity”, and for Al Sisi. The rapprochement that began last month underlines the GCC’s consensus on the urgent need to address the growing extremism that threatens to destabilise the region. Arabian Gulf states have “no choice but to face terrorism”, Qatar’s Emir told fellow leaders at the summit’s opening. Sheikh Tamim told his guests at the Doha summit that “Terrorism prevention is better than trying to cure it after it expands,” . The slow pace of many GCC projects — including a political union, common currency, and more intertwined economies — meant regional observers were unsure what would become of the group’s military ambitions. But now, with several of the GCC countries taking part in air strikes on ISIL militants in northern Syria, forming a joint force has gained new impetus. Given the many developments at all levels in the region and worldwide, GCC countries cannot afford any disputes or differences. On the contrary they have to double their efforts to face the challenges they are encountering regionally and globally.
The writer is a professor of public relations and Mass Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University.
