Context

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recently announced its ‘Vision for Regional Security’ at  its headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What is the Gulf Cooperation Council’s new ‘Vision for Regional Security’?

• Donning a formal character: The unveiling of the vision document constitutes a formal and unambiguous articulation of their regional security vision and a reiteration of their commitment to work together in this regard.
  • Traditionally, the regional security issues were primarily articulated through official communiqués issued after the high-level summit meetings of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
• Explicit reference to the Israel–Palestine issue: The Vision Document reiterates the demand of a two-State solution, the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the pre-June 1967 borders and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital apart from activating the Arab Peace Initiative.

The Vision Statement for Regional Security

• Principles:

  • The vision statement operates on the principles of shared destiny and indivisible and collective security of the member states.
    • It outlines the principles of respecting sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of the States

• Objective: 

  • To preserve regional security and stability, tackle the challenges facing them and settle the disputes through peaceful means. 
  • To build regional and international partnerships to deal with the regional threats.

• Commitments: 

• • Resolution of conflict: The GCC states need joint actions to prioritize dialogue and negotiation to resolve their differences and conflicts  and to avoid the use of force.
  • Terrorism and extremism:  It urges the member states to combat terrorism and extremism by stopping the flow of money to the hands of the terrorists and to combat money laundering.
  • Maritime security:  A call for regional and international coordination to ensure maritime security and ensure safety of trade and energy supply routes. 
    • Gulf Cooperation Council countries are the key suppliers of energy and  any disruption in the sea lines of communication will directly affect their national economies. Example: The Red Sea Crisis.
  • Nuclear non proliferation Regime: The GCC has asked  to make the region a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (WMDFZ) with  Iran and Israel possessing nuclear programmes.
    • It calls for a Nuclear non proliferation Regime in West Asia, but also supports the right of the States to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
  • Cybersecurity: The vision document urges the member states to take effective steps to combat cyber security challenges with growing digitisation. 
  • Shared challenges: Effective collaboration in addressing the new age challenges of  climate change, water and food security, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), energy security, defending economic resources and creating investment opportunities.