Kuwait’s founding role central to GCC’s success

Kuwait: As the 45th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit opens on Sunday in Kuwait, it is impossible to overlook the pivotal role played by the country’s leadership in the founding of the council. Years of tireless efforts and extensive consultations led by the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah culminated in the establishment of GCC in 1981. This vision, developed over five years, laid the foundation for what has become one of the most successful models of regional integration in the Arab world. The GCC now stands as a cornerstone for the security, stability, and prosperity of its member states and their peoples.

Over the past four decades, the GCC, guided by the wisdom and visionary leadership of its rulers and the solidarity of its peoples, has served as a strong framework for collective security. The idea for the creation of the GCC was first proposed in May 1976, during a visit by the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad to the United Arab Emirates. There, he engaged in discussions with the late UAE President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, in which he proposed the formation of a Gulf unity aimed at fostering cooperation across a wide range of fields. This unity would be based on solid and enduring foundations, ensuring the security, stability, and well-being of the region’s peoples.

In December 1978, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad instructed the late Crown Prince and then Prime Minister, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, to visit the five other Gulf countries — UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar — to present his proposal. His visits were met with strong support, and the subsequent official statements emphasized the need for rapid action to unite these nations. They highlighted the deep religious, cultural, and national ties between the Gulf countries, which provided a solid foundation for cooperation and progress, as well as a means to counter the growing influence of external powers in the region.

At the 11th Arab League Summit in Amman in November 1980, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad presented a Kuwaiti vision for a unified Gulf strategy. His proposal called for a comprehensive framework of cooperation, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and military collaboration. This vision was widely embraced by the Gulf states.

On February 4, 1981, the foreign ministers of the six Gulf states convened and issued a statement calling for the establishment of the GCC, emphasizing cooperation among member states rather than a political union. To implement this vision, a committee of experts met in Riyadh on February 24-25, 1981, to finalize the council’s structure and draft its founding charter.

On March 9, 1981, the foreign ministers met in Muscat, Oman, where they approved the GCC’s organizational structure and initialed its founding charter. Finally, on May 25, 1981, the first summit of the GCC was held in Abu Dhabi, officially establishing the Gulf Cooperation Council. The founding charter was formally adopted, and Kuwaiti diplomat Abdullah Yacoub Bishara was appointed as the first Secretary-General of the GCC.

Founding charter

The preamble of the GCC’s charter underscored the special relations, shared values, and common objectives among the member states, all rooted in Islamic principles, a common destiny, and unity of purpose. The GCC’s cooperative efforts were aimed at serving the higher goals of the Arab nation.

The objectives outlined in the founding charter include promoting coordination, integration, and unity among the member states across a range of fields—political, economic, financial, commercial, customs, transportation, education, culture, health, media, tourism, and legislative affairs. The charter also emphasized fostering scientific and technological advancements in key sectors such as industry, mining, agriculture, water, and animal resources, while establishing research centers and joint projects to encourage private sector cooperation.

The final communiqué of the first GCC summit highlighted the region’s security and stability, emphasizing the rejection of foreign interference and the need for the Gulf to remain free from international conflicts.

Effective regional union

The summit also reaffirmed the necessity of finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue that would guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The creation of the GCC was not merely a strategic decision; it was a reflection of the deep historical, social, and cultural ties that unite these nations. The shared religious beliefs, cultural connections, and familial bonds among their peoples, along with their geographical proximity, created a natural sense of unity and common identity.

While the GCC formalized and organized the long-standing interactions among these nations, it also responded to the security and developmental challenges facing the region. The establishment of the GCC was a practical response to the aspirations of the Gulf peoples for regional unity, especially after broader Arab unity proved difficult to achieve.

As the GCC celebrates its 43rd anniversary, it continues to be regarded as the most important regional entity in the Arab world, as His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah remarked during the 43rd Gulf Summit in Riyadh in December 2022. “Our collective Gulf action is filled with remarkable achievements that have elevated the GCC to one of the most successful and effective regional unions. We have successfully met the aspirations of our people and achieved strategic and economic benefits for our countries,” he said.