The Gulf Cooperation Council and U.S. Security Interests in the Persian Gulf

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter announced that any attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America. A decade later the United States was at war after one Gulf state was invaded and another was placed at risk. It is clear that we still count Gulf security and stability as vital interests. As we now consider possible future security arrangements for the Gulf region, it is worth looking at the potential usefulness of regional organizations. Of greatest interest in this respect is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), composed of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. What kind of security role can the GCC play? Are there means by which the United States can strengthen the GCC's ability to be a collective defense organization? This paper attempts to answer these questions.