On Sunday, December 1, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met in Kuwait for its 45th annual summit. Talks between the six member states focused on regional projects such as security, economic integration and cooperation, and conflicts in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. The summit produced the Kuwait Declaration, a joint statement condemning Israeli aggression in Gaza, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict, lauding the efforts of their members to promote peace, and pledging deeper economic cooperation.
The summit comes in the context of other breaking events in the region, including the agreement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, an offensive by rebel, anti-government forces in Syria, and arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli leaders. The GCC countries, especially Qatar, have taken more active roles in trying to mediate conflicts between Israel and its enemies, and have forged agreements on security in efforts to present a united front in the conflicts sweeping the region.
Sources from the region report on the summit:
The GCC strongly called for a ceasefire and an end to Israeli “aggression” in Gaza, Arab News has reported. The group asked for an immediate end to the “killings and collective punishment” and warned against further expansion of the conflict, while highlighting the efforts of Qatar to negotiate an end to the conflict and reaffirming its commitment to a two-state solution as the ultimate end to the conflict. They also praised the agreement of a ceasefire in Lebanon.
According to Middle East Monitor, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Al-Sabah called on the UN Security Council to enforce a ceasefire, imploring them to “halt the violence” and provide “international protection for civilians.” He denounced the “genocide,” and stressed his country’s opposition to Israeli military actions and their occupation of Palestinian territory.
The Arab Times highlights the plans in the text of the Kuwait Declaration to respond to the security and economic challenges the GCC faces. In addition to calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the declaration highlights efforts by members to promote peace, noting Saudi Arabia and Oman for their efforts to “revive the political process” in Yemen, and reasserts the GCC’s commitment to “dialogue and diplomacy” to solve conflicts. The leaders agreed to “intensify their efforts” to become a global hub for finance, business, and technology by integrating economic systems and developing digital markets.
The summit illustrated the priorities of the council to increase their collective power on the international stage, both through economic and political means. Based on the text of the Kuwaiti Declaration, member states will continue to try and foster deeper economic integration and wield their political power as a unit to work towards negotiating ends to the conflicts plaguing the region.