GCC States: From De-Risking To Longer-Term Security – OpEd

Member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Credit: VOA

May 16, 2026 
Arab News
By Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg


Iran’s 7,000-plus attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have transformed how the GCC looks at Iran in fundamental ways. Perceptions of threats emanating from Iran have critically sharpened and the need to counter them has never been more urgent.

The first reaction is de-risking by improving air defenses. Although their interception rates exceeded 90 percent, there is room for improvement. There is a need to restore normality in the Strait of Hormuz by getting the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibility, assert the international nature of the waterway and insist that no country is allowed to interfere with international shipping through it. The draft UN Security Council resolution that is currently under discussion was proposed by the GCC and it tracks the maritime rules stipulated by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Next, a system should be put in place to manage the strait as long as necessary. It could be run by the UN’s International Maritime Organization and supported by a UN peacekeeping force, similar to forces deployed by the organization in other hot spots around the world. There are currently 11 active UN peacekeeping missions deployed by the UNSC in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East in spots less critical than the Strait of Hormuz. They are supported by about 60,000 military, police and civilian personnel from more than 117 countries.

These arrangements can remain in place as long as they are needed, overseen by the UNSC. They could serve several important functions by asserting the rule of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They can also serve as a model for other waterways under threat, such as the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, which has seen ship traffic cut by half.


Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution when it was first voted on last month. Their objections were inexplicable because China is among the countries most affected by the closure, as it gets a third of its oil from the Gulf and its significant trade with the Gulf has been seriously disrupted. Even if Iran were to allow Chinese ships to pass, the US maritime blockade would not allow that.

There are hopeful signs regarding China’s position on the draft resolution. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said following the China-US summit in Beijing: “The Chinese side said they are not in favor of militarizing the Strait of Hormuz and they’re not in favor of a tolling system, and that’s our position.”

Russia is also contradicting its own declared desire to be part of any Gulf security arrangements. By putting the arrangements under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, Russia gets a front seat as a permanent UNSC member.

Bahrain, the GCC’s rotating presidency, has resubmitted the draft with the confidence that it will pass this time around. Seventy-five days of closure have severely affected nearly every country in the world. Rejecting this balanced draft would ignore the serious damage the closure has done to the lives and livelihoods of billions of people.


Once the UNSC resolution is adopted, the UN could step in to implement it. In addition, the UK and France have put together a coalition of some 50 countries with the aim of securing the strait and helping restore freedom of navigation.

Until that happens, the GCC states are using alternative routes to export their products and are planning on building additional pipelines and routes to bypass the strait. Escorts are also useful. The US launched an initiative, although it is currently on hold. There are multiple forces in the region that can take part in these escorts. The Combined Maritime Forces, a coalition of 47 nations, is based in Bahrain and spread across 3.2 million sq. miles of international waters, including key shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The EU and others also have forces in the region. Clearly, adopting the UNSC resolution currently under discussion would make their work much easier.

Longer term, the GCC states are immunizing themselves against future attacks along four parallel tracks.

First, they are beefing up their militaries, especially their missile and drone defenses and maritime security forces.

Second, they are giving unprecedented priority to integration and connectivity, both between member states and with the rest of the world, to ensure the safety and security of supply chains. Additional pipelines for oil, water and other products are planned and railroads and air links are being given a higher priority.

Third, they are strengthening their alliances and partnerships in light of the war. They are also coordinating with like-minded regional states, such as Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt, all of which have an abiding interest in restoring regional security.

Fourth, they are preparing legal cases against Iran to demand reparations for the unprovoked attacks against their territories.

Trust between the GCC states and Iran has clearly been broken by the latter’s attacks and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Restoring that confidence is going to be difficult without some concrete action from Iran, including it demonstrating contrition and committing not to attack them again. Iran’s acquiescence with the international regime securing the strait could serve as the first building block toward restoring that lost trust.

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC.