Leaders from the six nations that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the 37th GCC summit. This year’s meeting, beginning on Thursday, has a clear focus on two major issues. The first is strengthening regional efforts against terrorism. The second is addressing concerns about Iran’s supposed involvement in Gulf affairs. For the first time in the organization’s history, U.S. President Barack Obama is among the attendees. His presence signals a significant shift in diplomatic engagement. Since the Gulf alliance was established in the 1980s, Saudi Arabia has hosted seven of these summits. This shows its central role in shaping the group’s political and economic direction.
Past summits hosted by Saudi Arabia
Seven years later, the 1987 summit took place during the prolonged conflict between Iraq and Iran, two regional powers locked in a brutal war. These discussions showed how the GCC evolved in response to both internal and external pressures.
In 1999, a breakthrough was reached when Gulf leaders agreed to unify their customs tariffs. The agreement was set for March 2005. This resolved a last-minute disagreement that could have stalled a long-sought economic integration plan. Eight years later, in 2006, the 27th summit returned to economic themes. Talks at the summit focused on a GCC common market. This was a goal that had been delayed many times. Then in 2011, the 32nd summit focused on political unification. Saudi King Abdullah proposed the creation of a Gulf Confederation. The other leaders embraced this vision.
Recent issues shaping the Gulf agenda
In 2015, the 36th summit in Riyadh examined regional conflicts. These included the situation in Syria and the turmoil in Yemen. In Yemen, the Shia Houthi militia had taken control of the capital city and several provinces since 2014. This led to a complicated conflict. At the same time, the Gulf states remained deeply troubled by what they describe as Iran's growing influence in the region. They were also troubled by the effects of a nuclear deal signed between Tehran and world powers. These challenges have pushed Gulf nations to work more closely together.
At this year’s summit, GCC leaders are expected to reaffirm their opposition to foreign interference in their affairs. This message directly targets Iran. Along with security and political topics, the meeting will also highlight the region’s long-standing support for Palestinian self-determination. It will also highlight the eventual creation of an independent Palestinian state on land taken by Israel. These issues, though long-standing, remain central to the Gulf’s regional agenda.