Union of Arabian monarchs as deliverance from Iranian threat

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 / Trend /

Trend Arabic News Service commentator Aygul Taghiyeva A regular meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) has been recently held in Bahrain's capital Manama. The issue of uniting monarchies in the union was the main theme. The discussions have been held for about a year and the union seemed unreal because of the existing differences in economic issues. Of course, the cause of intensifying the negotiations to realize this issue was to enhance the threats from Arab monarchs' enemy - Iran. Even during the formation of the council in 1981, the main idea was to create a certain association to avoid involvement of the Persian Gulf countries in Iranian-Iraqi war. That time, the country's council could wait out the war, without interfering with it, and more or less enclose themselves from the consequences of war. The processes taking place directly in the GCC member countries, in particular, the protests of Shiite part of the population in Bahrain last March could be a new signal to join the union. Moreover, Shiite MPs got the majority of seats in the parliament at the last parliamentary elections in Kuwait at the end of last month. This could not but forced Saudi Arabia to think about the subsequent fate of the Sunni monarchs. Moreover, there were demonstrations of Shiites living in the eastern part of the country, where most of the oil reserves are concentrated, have been recently held there. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies consider Iran as the cause of political changes and instability in the Gulf region. Thus, Saudi Arabia's officials have repeatedly said that Iran is preparing a plan for changing the Sunni authorities in the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia itself must be the end point. Apart from economic cooperation, today creation of a union between the two countries is particularly aimed at military and strategic partnership. Recently, during a meeting Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz noted that creation of a union is necessary to preserve stability and ensure security amid increased regional threats. Joining together in a union, it will be easier for the kingdoms to control the political situation, and immediately provide the necessary assistance for stabilization of situation in a particular country, if necessary. It must be noted that accession of Morocco and Jordan to the GCC as new member states is being discussed for two years already. It turns out that the union will be created not according to geographical factors, but by a system of government - monarchy. At the same time, Jordan and Morocco are Sunni monarchies, which was, undoubtedly, the main reason for nomination of these countries as new members of the GCC. Establishment of a union with participation of Jordan is very important for the strategic partnership of the union, as Jordan, where mass protests unfolded recently, is experiencing a difficult period, both in the economy and domestic policy, leading to a change of government three times in the past year. Becoming alert due to the unrest in the neighboring kingdom, Saudi Arabia even invited a number of high-ranking military men and members of intelligence services from Jordan for developing further steps to prevent the continuation of protests in the country. Moreover, the economic and energy cooperation between the two countries is also very important. Thus, owning huge reserves of hydrocarbons and significant economic potential, the countries could solve important issues such as the energy crisis in Jordan or lack of electricity in countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait on their own, without the help from Iran. This way, the countries of the Council would also finally put an end to Iranian efforts to get closer with the countries of the region under the pretext of energy assistance to Jordan or implementation of the project for construction of common power network from Iran to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar. Given the above mentioned facts, it can be assumed that, considering the threat of Iran's growing influence in the region, both in economic and political life of the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, the unionization of Arab monarchs will happen very soon. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az