Chairing the 35th Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) Interior Ministers' regular meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday November 29, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, delivered a speech laying the foundation for the future of joint security cooperation. The foreword of his speech summed up three main threats to GCC member states: extremist ideology; sectarian conflicts and terrorist organizations; and foreign interference in the internal affairs of GCC member states. These threats are the direct or indirect consequences of the political upheaval that has swept the region since 2010, and has given rise to sectarian rhetoric and ideology under Iranian auspices through its extremist sectarian militia in the region. They have also brought about terrorist organizations, like Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS), that are no longer national organizations posing threats only within a national state, but have transformed to become transnational and/or transcontinental organizations that do not recognize geographic borders. While GCC member states have remained relatively stable, sparks of the political upheaval have threatened their strategic position through Iranian interference in their internal affairs as manifested in the Kingdom of Bahrain. GCC member states have also been targeted by terrorist organizations forefronted by Daesh, which sought legitimacy and funding by having access to oil wells. The Crown Prince gave an overview of the current regional status with this panoramic view. He said, "No matter how strong and critical those who threaten our security and stability may be, they will be diminished by our firm stand and tough response. We seek assistance from Allah in facing such criminal acts and aggressive plans. Then, we resort to the efficiency of our security agencies, to the solidity of our national unity, to the determination of our intellectual security, and to our expertise in facing challenges". In recent times we have seen these words put into action. GCC member states formed the "Arab Coalition" led by Saudi Arabia and launched Operation Decisive Storm in order to restore legitimacy and to save the Yemeni people from the Houthis and the agents of Iran. The Arab Coalition came into being in response to Iranian attempts to support the Houthi-Saleh militia in their coup against the legitimate government of Yemen that was approved by the Yemeni people as a whole. Moreover, in a clear message to the world showing that GCC member states are determined to counter any threat to their security and stability, security agencies of the six GCC member states carried out massive joint military exercises code-named "Arab Gulf Security 1" hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. These were preceded by bilateral and trilateral Gulf exercises including "Bridge-17", a Saudi-Bahraini joint naval exercise and "Gulf Shield 1" maneuvers in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman. Furthermore, in the face of both cross-border and organized criminal activities, GCC member states founded the Abu Dhabi-based Gulf police as additional support and reinforcement to the security and stability of the Gulf states. The Gulf Police is a valuable advancement that is beyond the scope of this article; however, it is important to point out their priorities as stated by Chief Officer Lieutenant Colonel Mubarak Al-Khaily. In an interview with Al-Watan newspaper, he described the main aim of the Gulf Police as the "establishment of a center for information and a database to serve security and police agencies for the exchange of criminal and security information. Another goal is the development of security and criminal analytical capability that will serve various security and police agencies across the member states. It will also serve the security work of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council". GCC member states have also produced a unified Gulf blacklist aimed at the identification of wanted individuals and terrorist organizations in order to take all necessary measures as stipulated in the applicable counterterrorism laws of the GCC and similar international rulings. Finally, I have faith in Allah above all and then in the security agencies of GCC member states that they will display their power, determination and expertise in maintaining security and stability. — Dr. Ibrahim Al-Othaimin is a Middle East affairs specialist and security analyst based in Riyadh. He can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Alothaimin
