Gulf Cooperation Council was established on May 25, 1981, primarily as an economic and secondarily as a political organization, that would mirror the European Economic Community[^[1]], later EU, in the Arabic peninsula. The participating countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Those states have a combined nominal GDP of more than $2 trillion (projection for 2025)[^[2]], their population is just over 62 million and their oil deposits are about 30% of the world’s known oil reserves[^[3]].

There were several geopolitical developments that led to the formation of yet another Arabic intergovernmental organization, apart from the League of Arab States or the commonly known Arab League[^[4]] and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)[^[5]]. The end of the 70s saw an apocalyptic change in the Gulf’s landscape: In 1979 the prevalence of the Shia Islamic Revolution in Iran, posed an imminent threat to the neighboring Sunni Gulf monarchies, as it was perceived an a priori destabilizing factor. Moreover, the Iran-Iraq War that broke out in 1980, was a menace for the regional stability, as a potential spillover could damage not only the neighboring oil-based economies, but also the ruling elites in the region. On top of that, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979), another chapter of the Cold War, was a direct foreign intervention in the region, aiming to change the local dynamics and balances.

Hence, the Gulf Cooperation Council was created as a self-assuring, even aspiring to be a self-defence, mechanism, that could act as a shield to both Shia expansionism and Great Powers’ suffocating embrace. At least, that was the idea. But how realistic that idea really was?

To begin with, a solid ground for such an endeavor was undoubtedly the enormous hydrocarbon deposits, discovered in the Gulf, that boosted the local economies. The Gulf states were rich in oil and natural gas and, to that end, the closer coordination, or even the institutionalized collaboration, to normalize (if not to control) the oil markets, along with a global expansion of their clientele, looked like feasible goals. In addition, apart from the common culture, the Gulf countries shared the same religion and the same language. After all, the Europeans had succeeded two decades ago, with less similarities and – of course – without having the enormous oil deposits… The greater challenge, though, as is the case in every International Organization, was the alignment of their national agendas.

Thus, to ‘achieve coordination, integration, and interconnection among member states in all fields leading to our unity and to strengthen and deepen the bonds and ties of cooperation among our peoples in various fields’[^[6]], the six Gulf countries established their formal cooperation in 1981. In addition, among the objectives of the GCC, one could underline the idea of having similar regulations in various fields, such as health and tourism, the streamlining of economic, trade, customs, transportation, educational and cultural affairs, the cooperation in social and health issues and the convergence of their respective legislative and administrative apparatus.[^[7]]

The Supreme Council, consisting of the Heads of State, meets annually and serves as the highest decision-making body, ensuring that, despite differences, a platform for consensus-building remains intact. This mechanism has been crucial in maintaining a degree of collective security and shared political identity rooted in common Islamic and monarchical traditions. Furthermore, the Council has been a successful vehicle for presenting a unified diplomatic front on various international stages, significantly amplifying the collective voice of the six states in fora like the United Nations. As a recent example, the GCC Secretary General, Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, participated in a high-level working session (25 September 2025), organized by Greece, an elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in which the Launch of the Alliance for Europe – Gulf Geopolitics & Investments Summit was announced[^[8]]. The exploration of new opportunities to enhance the relations of the GCC, both with individual countries and with regional and International Organizations, remains a top priority for the Council.

Although not explicitly described in the inauguration statement (Primary Law), closer cooperation in the field of Defence was also an integral part in the inception of the GCC.

To that end, a permanent force for collective defence and rapid deployment was created. The Peninsula Shield Force – PSF (قوة درع الجزيرة), is the military arm of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

It was established in 1982, during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), and its permanent Headquarters are at King Khalid Military City, 60 kilometers from Hafar al‑Batin (حفر الباطن) in northeastern Saudi Arabia, and only 150 kilometers from the borders with Iraq and Kuwait. Its peacetime strength is no more than 10,000 troops and it is foreseen to reach more than 100,000, should all 6 member states decide to fully participate with their declared personnel, assets and capabilities.

It is a Joint ‘Land Heavy’ force (mainly mechanized infantry and artillery), while national naval and air components will be integrated, as enablers, into joint operations. At the political level, the GCC Supreme Council is the decision-making body, while at the strategic level, the GCC Joint Military Committee under the GCC Secretariat- General exercises full Command. At the operational level, there is a rotational system in place; however, Saudi Arabia retains the primary role in command. Since February 2025, Major General Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Balawi has been the Commander of the Unified Military Command of the PSF.

The Force participated in Desert Sword operation, for the liberation of Kuwait (1991) with approximately 3,000 troops and acted as reserve force and security provider during the Iraq liberation (2003). Moreover, although the threat was not an external one, PSF was activated during the Shia unrest in Bahrain (2011), to secure critical infrastructure and, thus allowing the Bahraini forces to focus on the suppression of the insurgence. The main issue for PSF remains the lack of interoperability due to the reluctance of the Gulf countries to promote the full integration of their Armed Forces.

There are several domains where the GCC was successful. However, the progress by the GCC in the field of military integration was below expectations. The main reason is the reluctance of some GCC states to work together, due to their divergent political perceptions. While they seem to have a common ground regarding the security – even defence – cooperation with the West, they have been unable to align their regional and individual interests. Indeed, a common threat perception still does not exist among the GCC states, a fact that has significant implications for effective defense integration. The success of all initiatives in the military sphere is conditioned by political constraints rather than purely military considerations. In this regard, the GCC countries will need to continue their difficult efforts to bridge conflicting political interests, and to reduce the political rivalries that have constituted a barrier to vital cooperation.

REFERENCES

1. EU Official Webpage, ‘History of the European Union 1945-59’: Building on the success of the Coal and Steel Treaty, the 6 participating countries, namely Belgium, France, Germany, Italy Luxemburg and Nederland, expanded their cooperation on March 25, 1957, by signing two treaties in Rome; thus, creating the European Economic Community (EEC), and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/history-eu/1945-59_en ↑

2. IMF World Economic Outlook (April 2025) and World Bank projections. These forecasts assume oil prices around $80 per barrel (Brent) and moderate global economic growth (2.8% in 2025). ↑

3. USGS, ‘World Oil and Gas Resource Assessments’, Jan 1, 1024 https://www.usgs.gov/centers/central-energy-resources-science-center/science/world-oil-and-gas-resource-assessments ↑

4. The Arab League was founded on March 22, 1945, in Cairo, Egypt. It was established to promote political, economic, cultural, and social cooperation among Arab countries. The League initially had seven founding members: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and North Yemen. Today, it consists of 22 member states. It has played a role in mediating disputes and coordinating policies on issues affecting the Arab world. Britanica, ‘Arab League’, Sep 21, 2025: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arab-League ↑

5. OIC: Founded in 1969 (Rabat), with 57 members. Its scope is to ensure the Islamic solidarity, to protect Islamic holy places, to promote peace, security, human rights, rule of law, moderation, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue across Muslim-majority nations. Moreover, to support the Palestinian cause. Naheed S. Goraya, Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, ’47 Years Of Organization Of Islamic Cooperation-OIC : A Critique’, Muslim Perspectives Volume I, Issue 2, 2016: https://muslim-perspectives.com/Publication-Detail?publication=13%2F47-Years-Of-Organization-Of-Islamic-Cooperation-OIC%3A-A-Critique&utm_source=chatgpt.com ↑

6. GCC Official Webpage: https://www.gcc-sg.org/en/AboutUs/Pages/PrimaryLaw.aspx ↑

7. Ibid ↑

8. Ibid Media Center, Sep 25, 2025: https://www.gccsg.org/en/MediaCenter/News/Pages/news2025-9-25-8.aspx ↑