GCC to boost military coordination

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has agreed to enhance military coordination in response to Iran's ongoing war, according to a statement following a meeting of their defense ministers in Manama, Bahrain. The six member countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - have decided to establish a joint military command center in Kuwait.

This move comes as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates pledged to provide necessary troops, though specific numbers were not disclosed.

The GCC Secretary-General, Jasem Albudaiwi, emphasized that the security of the Gulf states is a shared responsibility. He cited "brutal Iranian aggression" as the primary reason for this increased military cooperation. Albudaiwi added that this collaboration aims to bolster the countries' ability to safeguard their territories, assets, and populations.

The GCC was established in 1981, shortly after the 1979 Iranian Revolution and amidst the early stages of the Iraq-Iran war. A decade later, the Peninsula Shield Force was established, which at its peak comprised approximately 40,000 troops. This force was deployed to Bahrain in 2011 to quell mass protests.

In their quest for increased defense allies, the Gulf states, along with their longstanding security partner, the United States, are also looking towards other countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, for additional support in defense matters.