Middle East Information Resource
Political Entities - Gulf Cooperation Council
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is an organization composed of six countries in the Persian Gulf region, established in May 1981. These are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Abdallah Bishara, a Kuwaiti diplomat was appointed its first Secretary General, with a Permanent Secretariat in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. The Cooperation Council was formed because of a growing fear on the part of these states for their domestic security, following the Shi`i revolution in Iran and subsequent agitation among Shi`i communities in north-eastern Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies. They were alarmed by such events as the armed takeover of the Ka`ba mosque in Mecca in 1979 and the Iran-Iraq War in September 1980.
The objectives of the GCC were to promote cooperation amongst its members, primarily in relation to security, including the resolution of border disputes. They undertook to coordinate arms procurement and national economic policies. Iraq was notified of the intention to establish the organization and its exclusion was explained as being in the interest of maintaining neutrality in connection with the war with Iran. The GCC holds regular meetings of a "Supreme Council," in rotation, in the capitals of the member states. The "Supreme Council" is a meeting of the Heads-of-State, and there is also a "Ministerial Council" which is a meeting of the Foreign Ministers.
The GCC was very much preoccupied with the Iraq-Iran War. The GCC tried in June 1982 to use its influence to end the War, but accomplished nothing. In November of that year, the GCC condemned Iran for occupying Iraqi territory. The continuing war between Iran and Iraq motivated the GCC members to an unusually high degree of cooperation, especially on common regional concerns. In 1984, the GCC conducted a joint military exercise in the UAE for three weeks. Shortly thereafter, the GCC summit decided to establish a "Rapid Deployment Force" (RDF) of two brigades under the Saudi commander, based in Riyad.
The Iran-Iraq War began to affect the Gulf monarchies` oil production and to threaten their sovereignty. In late 1987, a GCC Summit sought support from outside the region and asked the UN Security Council to implement its cease-fire plan, Resolution 598, which had been adopted in July of that year. The GCC tried to avoid the appearance of taking sides in the war and to maintain normal relations with both Iraq and Iran. However, the GCC states were constantly under threat from both Iran and Iraq. The warring states had military capability superior to any of their other neighbors, and were unrestrained in the application of violence and subversion against them. The GCC states were blackmailed to extend staggering amounts of financial aid to Iraq. On the other hand, Iran subjected them to sabotage, political subversion, propaganda warfare, and military attacks against oil tankers in the Gulf and on Kuwaiti territory. In fact, the GCC was supportive of Iraq. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in particular, massively funded Iraq`s war.
Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the GCC position changed. It condemned the Iraqi action and deployed its RDF to the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. Later on, military units of all the GCC states participated in the international coalition against Iraq. The GCC also decided to suspend all financial aid to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) because of Arafat`s support of Saddam Hussein in the 1990-1991 Gulf crisis. After the Oslo Agreement between Israel and the PLO in September 1993, GCC members renewed their relations with the PLO. They later established relations with the Palestinian Authority. The Saudis pledged 100 million dollars over five years for the development of the Palestinian-governed territories of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Nevertheless, there is still mistrust between GCC members and Yasser Arafat.
In Damascus in March 1991 the GCC and the foreign ministers of Egypt and Syria met in a conference to discuss a response to the threat posed by the Gulf War. It was agreed that Egypt and Syria would receive financial aid for the deployment of 35,000 Egyptian and 20,000 Syrian troops. Together, they would form an expanded Gulf defense force that would replace the Western forces. This was "The Damascus Declaration," but this idea was later dropped from the agenda. The GCC, Syria, and Egypt, continued to use this forum for coordination of regional issues. After the Madrid conference, the GCC states also took part in multi-lateral talks on regional issues, even directly meeting Israeli delegates.
In late September 1994 the GCC decided to abolish the indirect boycott on Israel. This action was largely due to Oman and Qatar wanting to establish official diplomatic links with Israel. However, the peace making process became deadlocked in late 1996 and 1997 and a right-wing government came to power in Israel. As a result of these changes in the regional political climate, the GCC loosened its links with Israel. In the GCC meeting in the fall of 1997 it was suggested that relations with Israel be made conditional upon Israeli concessions. The GCC states were reluctant to countenance the use of force against Saddam Hussein by the US to enforce the UN Security Council`s resolutions regarding inspection and destruction of his non-conventional weapons.