Toward Collective Security in the Gulf: An Evolving United States Role in Support of the GCC States

The founding of The Gulf Cooperation Council marked a watershed in political cooperation of the states of the Persian Gulf. In an environment marked for seemingly constant turmoil, the United States support of regional stability in general and the security of the GCC states in particular has become increasingly important. After a discussion of U.S. regional interests, the paper discusses the evolution of the GCC. Beginning with a general distrust for the West and avoidance of superpower involvement, the GCC has recently demonstrated a willingness to seek U.S. help in pursuit of common objectives. A discussion of policy options leads to the conclusion that it is in the interest of the United States to remain actively engaged in stability issues of the Gulf and to specifically increase the overt level of support to the GCC. Recommendations are made concerning the appropriate mix of U.S. and Arab military forces, arms control, joint military exercises, the role of Foreign Military Sales, and prepositioning of military equipment and supplies. Politically, recommendations are advanced to address wide ranging issues, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict and reconstruction of regional states in the aftermath of Desert Storm.