Sunday 14 June 2026 - 10:12
GCC in Turmoil Over the Strait of Hormuz
The Ramadan War exposed and deepened hidden rifts within the Gulf Cooperation Council — to the extent that Oman and Qatar focused on de-escalation and mediation, the UAE and Bahrain on intensifying pressure against Iran, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait concentrated on a strategy of insulation and risk management. The persistence of these divergences could weaken the Council’s strategic cohesion and push its members toward different security and political coalitions. As a result, the GCC is becoming less of a cohesive security bloc and more of a collection of actors with varying perceptions of threat and regional interests.
