Developments of Gulf Regional Security in 2014

The Arab World has been undergoing strategic transformations since 2011. Such changes allowed the GCC states to play a major regional role towards certain crises. However, they have concurrently placed an intricately complex regional environment before the GCC states to deal with, particularly in 2014, a year characterized by rapid developments within Gulf-to-Gulf ties and within neighboring countries namely Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The situation called upon the GCC states to face such challenges through several mechanisms. The GCC states must reinforce the idea of maintaining the GCC as a protective shield against such challenges. Develop joint Gulf mechanisms including agreements to establish a joint Gulf maritime force (navy) and a counterterrorism force capable for fast interventions. The GCC states should consider further developing relationships with Egypt, considering its national security is integrated with Gulf (regional) security. Regional security challenges is categorized into two main categories: First, the proliferation of non-state actors (NSAs), which are a threat to nation sovereignty in the region; second, the P5+1 (Five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) and Iran nuclear talks. The GCC states are concerned that those negotiations will go beyond nuclear issues, which might disrupt the current balance of powers in the Arabian Gulf region amidst existing conflicts between GCC states and Iran. Furthermore, Gulf regional security sustains an influence from international powers and organizations including the United States and NATO.