Saudi Arabia's strategy in the Gulf cooperation council: Spaces for cooperation and conflict

Abstract

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf is the most important regional organization in the Middle East. Since the 1980s, it has boosted the economic and political integration of its six member states, all of which are monarchies. After the Arab Spring of 2011, local crises triggered increasing tensions among its members due to their conflicting interests. The Council is the Saudi Arabia's primary area of influence. King Salman and Prince-Crown Mohammed bin Salman intend to reinforce the Saudi leadership over the rest of the partners to build a Riyadh-led common foreign policy. However, their goals are not fully shared by other Council countries, especially by Qatar, starting a period of severe internal rifts. This is completely destabilizing the local area and jeopardizing the organization's sustainability and integration mechanism. This paper analyzes the organization's role in regional cooperation and security strategies, focusing on Saudi Arabia's role and the emerging tensions between the partners.