Page 18 - The Indian EYE 021921

OPINION February 19, 2021 | The Indian Eye 18

gulf security: will iran

and saudi arabia work together?

The year 2021 offers hope. The re-entry of Qatar presents an opportunity for the GCC to put up a united front

is doing its best to be seen as an
raJeev agarwaL
independent and legitimate en-
he prospects for peace and tity, free from direct control/in-
fluence from neighbouring Iran.
reconciliation the Gulf Fortunately, the GCC and Iraq
Tregion brightened in the share a good relationship and
New Year, when the Gulf Co- this may facilitate a better un-
operation Council (GCC) end-
ed its diplomatic and economic derstanding of stakes and secu-
blockade of Qatar on January 5. rity concerns across both ends
The 41st summit held at AlUla of the Gulf.
Given the deep-rooted mis-
in Saudi Arabia was attended trusts, ideological conflicts and
by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad regional rivalries, it is indeed a
Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, for difficult task. Even so, incom-
the first time in three years. The
AlUla Declaration affirmed the plete geo-political structures
commitment of the member like the GCC are not the solu-
tion. A geo-political framework
states to work towards regional that includes all of the con-
peace and security ‘as a single, cerned states can only serve as an
unified economic and political effective platform for dialogue.
group’. Saudi Arabia, a strong US ally, will play an important role in GCC affairs this year
The Saudi Foreign Minis- The world has witnessed the
ter, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan the Saudi-led regional order. huge market for the American re-unification of Germany and
Bin Abdullah, in an interview Even as the concerns, interests defence industry. Japan became a key ally of the
US, despite being the only na-
to Al-Arabiya on January 21, and stakes of the other region- The year 2021, however, of- tion to be bombed with atomic
stated that the Kingdom was ex- al countries and the world have fers hope. The re-entry of Qatar weapons, by the US. These ex-
tending its hand for peace with evolved significantly in the past presents an opportunity for the amples signify that long-held
Iran. The spokesperson of the decades, the GCC appears fro- GCC to put up a united front.
Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saeed zen in time. The change in US presiden- historical and ideological differ-
Khatibzadeh, welcomed the The basic premise for the cy with the election of President ences can be overcome.
But till then, the GCC, an-
Saudi statement and affirmed birth of GCC was to bring to- Joseph Biden offers hope for re- chored to nations south of the
that Iran’s position was that re- gether countries of the Gulf instatement of the Iran nuclear Gulf, continues to remain an in-
gional countries should come to region against the perceived deal, although it may not be a adequate and ineffective instru-
a common understanding on re- threat from two enemies — an very popular decision with Isra- ment to pursue regional security.
gional problems. ideological enemy (Iran) and a el. Iranian presidential elections
While these developments belligerent power (Iraq). The are also slated to be held later
are indeed welcome, the goal birth of GCC was thus based on this year. The return to compli- Col Rajeev Agarwal is Assistant
towards reaching a common two major pillars, fear (of Iran ance of all participants to the Director (Admin) at Manohar
understanding towards credible and Iraq), and exclusion (again Iran nuclear deal will no doubt Parrikar IDSA
peace and security in the Gulf of Iran and Iraq, along with an help in the election of a moder- Views expressed are of
region still remains elusive. This embattled and weak Yemen). ate candidate and boost options
can be attributed to the nature The GCC, therefore, had for reconciliation in the region. the author and do not necessarily
of the regional security architec- to lean on the US, which was Iran would however insist on reflect the views of the Manohar
ture which has been in place for ready and willing to provide the the lifting of economic sanctions Parrikar IDSA or of the
Government of India.
over four decades. security umbrella as it served its and on the acceptance of its le-
The only representative multiple interests. These includ- gitimate interests and stakes in This is the abridged version of the
structure focusing on the Gulf ed an easy and direct access to the region. article which appeared first in the
region’s security is the GCC, crude oil, geopolitical interests The other major country Comment section of the website
formed soon after the Irani- in Central Asia and Afghani- north of the Gulf, Iraq, too is (www.idsa.in) of Manohar
an revolution of 1979, amidst stan, and countering Russian finding its feet after its fight Parrikar Institute for Defense
fears of the Shia regime trying influence in the region. Most with the ISIS. The current dem- Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
to upstage the dominance of importantly, the GCC was a ocratically elected government on February 11, 2021

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