Gulf Cooperation Council

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprised of six Arab monarchies, is currently at the center of regional turmoil due to escalating tensions between the US and Iran. Recent news highlights the GCC's vulnerability, with member states like the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain reporting missile and drone attacks despite a US-Iran ceasefire. This situation has prompted the GCC to seek UN Security Council intervention to halt Iranian attacks and secure freedom of navigation through strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. The GCC's bid for UN approval of "defensive" measures in the Strait was previously vetoed by China and Russia. The organization's relevance is underscored by its strategic location and its members' concerns about being caught in the crossfire of the US-Iran conflict, particularly regarding the security of vital energy supply routes.