- Formation and Membership: The GCC was established in 1981, comprising six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
- Purpose: Created to promote economic, political, and security cooperation among Gulf Arab states, aiming to address regional challenges and ensure stability.
- Economic Integration: Known for efforts to establish economic unity through a customs union, common market, and plans for a single currency, enhancing its role as an economic bloc.
- Energy Cooperation: The GCC countries collectively control a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas reserves, making them pivotal players in global energy markets.
- Security Coordination: The GCC collaborates on security, conducting joint military exercises and addressing regional issues, especially regarding Iran and the Yemen conflict.
- Trade and Economic Ties: The GCC is engaged in free trade negotiations with major economies, further solidifying its position in international trade.
- Political Influence: As a unified entity, the GCC enables member states to present coordinated stances on regional and global issues, influencing Middle Eastern geopolitics.
- Humanitarian Assistance: GCC countries are prominent providers of financial and humanitarian aid, supporting neighbors during crises or conflicts.
- India-GCC Relations: India has significant ties with GCC countries in trade, energy, and the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf, which strengthens economic and cultural connections.
- Challenges: The GCC faces internal and external challenges, such as intra-GCC tensions (e.g., Qatar blockade in 2017), differing perspectives on Iran, and balancing relationships with major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia.
Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons