GCC redefines regional security amid a transforming Middle East
By Suraiyya Aziz
The final communique of the 46th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, held in Bahrain’s capital Manama on December 3, stands as one of the most consequential political documents the bloc has released in years. Far from a ceremonial statement, it reflects a profound transformation in how Gulf capitals understand the rapidly shifting strategic environment of the Middle East – an environment reshaped by the events that began with Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, and further complicated by the unprecedented Israeli-Iranian confrontation in 2024.
What makes the Manama communique distinct is not merely its strong wording, but the structural shift it signals in Gulf security thinking. For the first time in years, GCC declarations have moved beyond broad language and entered the realm of high-stakes strategic clarity. The Gulf states – long accustomed to navigating between regional fires – now openly acknowledge that their own neutrality has been shattered. Geography, once a buffer, has become a frontline.
At the heart of the communique lies a familiar phrase with drastically new implications: that “the security of the GCC states is indivisible and that any aggression against one is aggression against all.” While this line has appeared in previous documents, this time it carries the weight of real events. The Israeli-Iranian war – previously unthinkable – saw Iranian missiles striking Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, followed by an Israeli strike inside Doha itself. These were not symbolic attempts at intimidation; they represented a new era in which Gulf territory is no longer insulated from regional escalation.
This intrusion into sovereign Gulf space destroyed the long-standing assumption that the region’s wealth, diplomacy, and strategic partnerships could reliably shield it from direct attack. For decades, the Gulf states invested in deterrence through alliances and influence. Now, direct warfare in their airspace has forced them to redefine their understanding of security as an existential matter, rather than an abstract political commitment.
The communique’s language on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict marks one of the clearest positions the GCC has taken in years. It holds Israel “fully responsible for its violations and ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip,” rejecting any portrayal of Israeli actions as self-defense. It goes further, explicitly calling the Gaza campaign “a crime of genocide” and condemning policies of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment.
This represents a significant departure from the traditional Gulf strategy of cautious neutrality and diplomatic balancing. Instead, the document articulates a legal, moral, and political framing that aligns the GCC with international humanitarian law and with global public opinion, particularly in the Global South.
Yet, this is not a rhetorical stance alone. The GCC simultaneously welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which operationalizes a US-supported plan for postwar Gaza reconstruction and establishes the Board of Peace, a transitional administrative body designed to coordinate redevelopment and funding.
This dual-track approach reflects a maturing Gulf policy: moral clarity paired with pragmatic engagement.
The Gulf’s positions combine two complementary layers:
A firm legal-moral stance against Israel’s conduct in Gaza, positioning the GCC as an active defender of Palestinian rights in international forums.
A practical investment in shaping postwar Gaza, not through unilateral initiatives but through internationally recognized bodies capable of mobilizing global funding and political legitimacy.
This approach ensures that the Gulf states are central actors in any future settlement – whether political or developmental – rather than mere observers or donors.
Perhaps the most delicate yet revealing part of the communique concerns Iran, which remains the most critical and sensitive challenge to Gulf security. The GCC, while expressing openness to dialogue, did not dilute its firm stance on Tehran’s regional behaviour.
On the political level, the communique reiterates fundamental principles: respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and adherence to good neighborliness as defined by the UN Charter and international law. These are pointed reminders of longstanding Gulf accusations regarding Iran’s support for proxy militias, destabilizing activities, and intelligence operations inside neighboring states.
But the communique also breaks from abstract language and addresses concrete disputes. It explicitly condemns Iran’s continued occupation of the three UAE islands – Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb – and firmly reiterates that the Al-Durra gas field lies entirely within Kuwaiti maritime waters and is jointly owned only by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
This precision signals a shift in Gulf diplomacy: no more vague concerns, but direct naming of issues that have historically poisoned relations with Tehran.
The Gulf states are not closing the door on diplomacy. On the contrary, they praised Oman for facilitating nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US and affirmed the importance of continued talks aimed at addressing all GCC concerns.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani summarized the position succinctly: “Iran is a neighboring state and Bahrain will not be an obstacle to the restoration of normal relations with it.”
Yet, this openness is conditional and requires Iran to make real changes: ending support for transnational militias, dismantling covert cells, respecting sovereignty, and halting interference in Arab states’ internal affairs.
One of the key themes of the communique is the renewed push for deeper military and security cooperation within the GCC. The document calls for completing the components of joint defense systems and expanding collective security frameworks.
The Gulf leadership recognizes that security integration is no longer a luxury – it is a survival necessity. The region faces simultaneous crises: the Gaza war, unpredictable US-Iran negotiations, volatile maritime security in the Red Sea, and ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon.
These overlapping pressures require the GCC to accelerate defense integration, enhance coordination, and create mechanisms that can function even under crisis, not only during periods of stability.
The GCC’s communique from the Manama summit marks a turning point in the long evolution of Gulf political strategy. For decades, the Gulf approach relied on economic strength, diplomatic adaptability, and external security guarantees. Today, however, the region demands new tools: unity, precision, strategic clarity, and a willingness to confront threats directly.
The Gulf states are no longer content with symbolic declarations. They now face a regional landscape where neutrality is impossible, geography is vulnerability, and security is inseparable from political vision.
In this turbulent environment, the 46th GCC Summit’s message is unmistakable: the Gulf is prepared to act collectively, define its priorities clearly, and engage with the region’s shifting dynamics with realism and resolve.
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