GCC and EU more in sync politically than ever

The GCC and EU have never been so much in sync over political issues since they signed their first agreement in 1988. This was plainly evident in the meeting of their “Political Committee” meeting in Brussels on May 20. The committee comprises representatives from all EU 27 and GCC 6 states, plus representatives from key institutions from the two sides.

The EU was among the first to condemn Iran’s missile and drone strikes on GCC states and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On March 5, days after the start of the war, ministers from the 33 countries met virtually and issued a scathing rebuke of Iran’s attacks. This was the GCC’s first meeting with any outside group since the start of the war on February 28.

Political alignment is clear not only on the Iran war, but clearly also on Gaza, the two-state solution, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. The change in government in Hungary opens the door for EU’s sanctions on Israel to bring its policies closer to those of the GCC. Its co-sponsorship of the International Alliance for the Implementation is another signal.

On Syria, the EU just concluded another conference in Brussels and plans to expand its support the government there, as does the GCC. The same case for Yemen, where the EU now expressed strong criticism of the Houthis as an Iranian proxy and supports the internationally recognized government.

The two blocs are planning their next summit of heads of state and government in Saudi Arabia. They plan to pick up the pace in implementing important projects of integration and connectivity during the months leading up to the summit.

The EU was among the first to condemn Iran’s missile and drone strikes on Gulf states and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

Some of these projects were flagged by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2024, long before the current war made them essential. They focus on connectivity between the two blocs. There are five of them of high priority for both groups.

The first project is achieving electric grid connectivity, which is an efficient way of exporting energy free of entanglement in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz or any other waterway. Meetings were held between the two sides, but a clear timed roadmap is needed before the summit.

The second involves plans for exporting hydrogen exports through pipelines and tankers is another project under consideration. Recent meetings between interested companies and states are trying to flesh out these plans, but more needs to be done.

The third focuses on enhancing connectivity between the two blocs via railroads, airports, data cables and maritime shipping, which is a long term goal that includes IMEC and other ways of increasing connectivity between the two groups.

The fourth project is jump-starting free trade negotiations, which have been dormant for some time, but there is keen interest in resuming them. The stumbling block has been the zero-sum thinking of some trade negotiators and the “one-size-fits-all” model that bureaucrats prefer. New thinking about trade is needed to return to the negotiating table, such as sectoral agreements instead of omnibus all-encompassing frameworks. The fact that the GCC and UK concluded their FTA negotiations this week demonstrates the benefits of flexibility.

The fifth is mobility of persons to facilitate tourism, trade and exchanges between institutions, schools and ordinary citizens. The GCC-EU summit of October 2024 committed the two sides to adopting concrete steps for visa free travel for citizens of the two blocs, but little progress has been made since then. While the majority of countries from both sides support operationalizing this commitment, there is a small handful of objectors. This needs to be tackled before the next summit.

These five projects aimed at improving connectivity between the two regions were conceived long before the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. They have acquired a higher priority since then, because it has become essential to find alternative trade routes, such as the ones some of these projects represent.

Besides these five projects, the two sides are working on another set of initiatives focused on security cooperation and increasing political alignment on regional crises.

On security cooperation, the focus has been on maritime security; counterterrorism; cybersecurity; proliferation of nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and drones; organized crime; and emergency response cooperation. The EU and GCC started exploring these six areas in 2024, but progress has been mixed. For example, on emergency response they signed an agreement to enhance cooperation between their relevant organizations, but there has been only limited progress on other issues.

One of these initiative, on maritime security cooperation has become more relevant during the current war, but the two groups still need an effective framework for cooperation.

The need to respond to Iran’s 7,000 plus attacks against GCC countries and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has brought the two group closer together. The EU expressed admiration for the GCC states’ resilience and expressed solidarity and readiness to provide help and support. They also thanked GCC states for helping repatriate EU nationals stranded in the region after the war, and the help they have provided to sailors and ships affected by the waterway’s closure.

The EU expressed admiration for the GCC states’ resilience and expressed solidarity and readiness to provide help and support

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

The GCC has urged the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibility for protecting the international nature of the waterway and ensuring that no country is allowed to interfere with international shipping through it. The draft UN Security Council resolution under discussion currently was proposed by the GCC and it tracks the maritime rules stipulated by UNCLOS on international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz. The EU has expressed strong support for this effort. Once the UNSC resolution is adopted, the UN should step in step in to implement it through the International Maritime Organization supported by a UN peacekeeping force.

The EU supports the “Hormuz Coalition” sponsored by the UK and France, which is a coalition of some 50 countries, with the aim of securing the strait and help restore freedom of navigation through escorting ships, but for this coalition to work, it needs a sustainable ceasefire and Iran’s OK, neither of which looks forthcoming anytime soon.

However, If a security council resolution is delayed, there is a need to think of alternatives, including collective regional and international mechanisms to provide safe transit passage for all through the Strait of Hormuz. The EU has Operation Aspides, which escorts ships through Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea; its mandate could be extended to the Gulf. The US has launched an escort initiative although it is currently on hold. There are multiple other forces in the region which can take part in these escorts, including the Combined Maritime Forces, another coalition of 47 nations. Clearly, adopting the UNSC resolution currently under discussion would make their work much easier, but they should consider operating without it if necessary.

Nothing focuses the minds of bureaucrats as a forthcoming summit. The next few months should then witness intense activity on all of these issues, to ensure the success the upcoming gathering of the EU and GCC heads of state and government.  

• Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC.

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