The (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation formed to promote political coordination, economic integration, and security cooperation among Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
- Established: 1981
- Headquarters: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Nature: Political, economic, and security bloc
Member Countries
The GCC comprises six Gulf monarchies:
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Bahrain
Objectives
The GCC was created to:
- Strengthen regional security and stability
- Promote economic integration and policy coordination
- Foster social, cultural, and scientific cooperation
- Present a collective Arab Gulf position on regional and global issues
Institutional Structure
- Supreme Council:
- Highest decision-making body
- Comprises heads of member states
- Presidency rotates annually
- Ministerial Council:
- Foreign ministers of member states
- Meets quarterly to implement decisions
- Secretariat General:
- Administrative body
- Headed by a Secretary-General
Economic Cooperation
- Customs Union (2003): Common external tariff
- Common Market (2008): Free movement of citizens for work, residence, and business
- Monetary Union (Proposed): A common GCC currency has been discussed but not implemented
- Strong coordination in energy, infrastructure, transport, and investment policies
Security and Defence Cooperation
- Peninsula Shield Force:
- Joint military force of GCC members
- Cooperation on:
- Counter-terrorism
- Maritime security
- Intelligence sharing
- Plays a key role in regional balance of power, especially vis-à-vis Iran
Geopolitical Significance
- GCC states control a major share of the world’s oil and natural gas reserves
- Strategic location along critical sea lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz
- Influential in OPEC, global energy markets, and West Asian geopolitics
India–GCC Relations
- GCC is India’s largest trading partner bloc
- Key source of:
- Energy imports (oil & LNG)
- Remittances from Indian diaspora
- Strategic cooperation in:
- Defence
- Counter-terrorism
- Food security
- Investment and infrastructure
Challenges Faced by GCC
- Political differences among members (e.g., Qatar crisis, 2017–21)
- Over-dependence on hydrocarbon economies
- Managing regional conflicts and external pressures
Conclusion
The GCC remains a central pillar of West Asian regionalism, combining energy power, strategic geography, and collective security ambitions. Despite internal differences, it continues to shape regional stability, global energy markets, and India’s extended neighbourhood diplomacy.
