Prospects for the Growth and Influence of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Abstract
The confluence of momentous global and regional developments have accorded the Gulf an epicentric role in Middle Eastern, South Asian and world affairs. During the 1970's, four major factors propelled the Gulf region to a position of inprecedented economic, strategic and political centrality--the world energy crisis; the Islamic Revolution in Iran; the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; and the escalating risks of the Arab-Isreali conflict. These external factors, combined with the Iraq-Iran War and internal instability, provided the critical impetus for the establishment of the Cooperation Council of the Gulf Arab states (Majlis al-Ta'awun li-Duwal al-Khalij al-arabi) in May 1981, consisting of Sa'udi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. In view of the persistance of multiple crises in the Gulf's periphery, and its economic and strategic importance, the evolution of the GCC is likely to be a central concern of Americal foreign and security policy in the Middle Eastern region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA142031