GCC military chiefs meet in Kuwait to discuss co-operation
The GCC Supreme Military Committee of Chiefs of Staff met yesterday with all member states present, including Qatar.
The meeting aims to increase military co-operation between members of the GCC, which is experiencing the worst diplomatic crisis since its 1981 creation.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut relations with Qatar in June last year over its support for terrorism and for interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbours.
“Chiefs of staff discussed several topics related to the promotion of joint military action, aimed at bringing the GCC member states armed forces towards integration,” the Kuwait state news agency said.
The meeting, one week after Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah met US President Donald Trump in Washington, will “promote a conjoined military action”.
Although not directly specified, this could relate to what has been called an “Arab Nato”.
The force, backed by the US, would counterbalance Iran’s growing expansionist agenda in the Arab world.
In July, Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Al Jarallah said his country was considering US proposals for a strategic alliance in the Middle East to counter Iran’s influence.
During Sheikh Sabah’s visit to Washington, Mr Trump said Iran was in “total turmoil” and that he would be open to talk about his withdrawal of the US from the nuclear deal with Iran.
The two leaders also looked at ways to solve the Gulf crisis.
Kuwait has served as the chief mediator during the boycott of Qatar.
The Gulf commanders will also meet representatives of the US Central Command and the Egyptian and Jordanian military tomorrow, the Kuwaiti official said.
The meetings will happen just over a week after Pentagon chief James Mattis and Centcom head Gen Joseph Votel held talks in the Gulf.