Publication

This paper discusses the implications of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) decision in December 2013 to create a unified military command for security cooperation in the Middle East. More specifically, it examines 1) why the GCC took this decision; 2) the historical background of the GCC defense cooperation and its achievements so far; 3) the characteristics and structure of the unified command, including integrated defense systems and intelligence; and 4) the political challenges and strategic impacts generated by the GCC’s decision to establish the unified military command.