Security Integration through the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council

The quest to enhance security has always been an important factor in the establishment of regional organizations. Similarly, the establishment of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in 1981 among the six Persian Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Qatar) was ultimately the result of a growing perceived need for defense and security cooperation. The PGCC states, since the inception of the organization, have taken many joint steps to further improve their collective defense capabilities without actually signing a strong security pact. This paper will focus on the nature of security integration in the PGCC