By Oraib Al-Rantawi, The Daily Star, Lebanon

On May 10, at their 13th consultative summit, Gulf Cooperation Council leaders accepted Jordan’s application for membership, noting that it had originally been tendered 15 years ago. The GCC leaders also issued an invitation to Morocco to join their “super-rich Arab club” even though Morocco had not requested to join.

This decision by the Gulf countries was viewed in Arab political circles as a striking step. Some described the decision as an attempt to create a “Sunni monarchies club;” others, as an attempt to re-create the 1950s Baghdad Pact. The GCC initiative was the outcome of Saudi-led efforts, supported by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. However, three other GCC countries, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, had reservations with the move, which may reflect their apprehension.

The controversial decision led to a debate inside GCC political, economic and cultural circles and provoked internal opposition. A move by GCC leaders to admit Jordan will prove difficult. The decision could not be taken outside the context of Saudi Arabia’s strategy for dealing with three major new challenges confronting the kingdom and its allies. First, the threats emanating from Iran’s consistent drive to extend its power and influence in the region, including among the GCC countries themselves, as well as Tehran’s nuclear program with multifold goals, including a military dimension.

A second major challenge is the collapse of moderate Arab regimes, in particular Hosni Mubarak’s regime in Egypt, in the course of the “Arab Spring,” possibly leading to the creation of democratic republics that reinforce anti-Saudi political forces (liberals, leftists and Islamists) inside these countries and regionally. This would present a new challenge to the kingdom. Riyadh has reacted with a counter-revolution against Arab reform and revolution that seeks to contain the new forces of change in the region.

Third is the growing threat posed by Al-Qaeda and other terrorists in “soft” regions like Yemen and the fear that this might penetrate Saudi Arabia. It also seems clear to Riyadh and some of its Gulf allies that the United States has shelved the Iran nuclear file and has not acted to prevent expansion of Iranian influence in the region. Further, the U.S. has appeared to be prepared to abandon allies like Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Zine al-Abedin Ben Ali of Tunisia if necessary.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2011/Jul-14/GCC-membership-may-be-a-burden-on-Jordans-security.ashx#ixzz1SODlG9L2
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)