Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and those who till in the sea of ‘illusions’

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THERE have been multiple attempts to harm the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) since its establishment on May 25, 1981. These malicious attempts were aimed at striking at the core of this historic project of brothers in the Gulf family. However, with every harmful attempt, the GCC house came out stronger and more solid than before.

Therefore, any current attempt to upset the relationship between the children of the same house is just a mirage. A good example is the recent GCC crisis that lasted for several years and the fuss that enveloped it, let alone the toxic arrows hurled at it in an attempt to frustrate its harmonize composition, However, in the end, such mischievous attempts came to nothing during the GCC summit held at Al-Oula city in Saudi Arabia where the brothers met and ironed out issues as if nothing had happened.

In this institution, there are two main pillars – the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Often, those who fish in troubled waters tried to capitalize on the differences of opinion on some issues, but they were met with disappointment as always. This was because the GCC was established to stay, and it continues with its mission to reach the total integration of its member states.

It is true that the envisaged achievements are not at the level that the Gulf people aspire for, but that does not mean that any transient disagreement would lead to its death.

For nearly a decade, this formidable institution has been subjected to many high caliber challenges, starting with the Muslim Brotherhood Group’s attempt to sabotage its countries, then the Obama administration’s plan to cement the logic of Iranian conspiracy against the voice of reason and Gulf moderation, followed by the war in Yemen and the persistence of the Mullahs regime and its Houthi agents to undermine the strength of the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia, with the cooperation of the UAE, which is the second active force, and the rest of the Gulf states.

All these challenges fell at the doorstep of the GCC house, because the unity of this house depends on the unity of shared destiny and path which forms a great wall that renders it more resistant to turbulence than anything else.

In all regional and international forums, there are varied viewpoints stemming from each country’s vision of how to protect its interests … This is normal between brothers.

Unfortunately, there are newspapers, media and communication sites – both Arab and Western – that capitalize on such differences of opinion, which would be purely technical. It seems they do so without going back to the archives, and they present issues as if they were the only reality.

There are many differences within the OPEC regarding several files … and this is not the first time.

However, the differences in opinion over an issue does not spoil the friendship between these two brotherly pillars; rather, it always turns out to be beneficial for the Gulf house as a whole.

This is what the people of the GCC countries aspire for, especially since the two countries have wise and far-sighted leaders like King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the rest of the leaders of the Emirates, all of who are well aware of the challenges facing them.

The Arabian Gulf states are aware and collectively face the malice and ferocity of those stalking them. In addition, these icons – Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – are always protected by the insistence of the people and nations of the GCC for more unity and integration.

Therefore, we say to all those who seek to capitalize on differences in opinions to frustrate the unity of the GCC house – “You are tilling in the sea”.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

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