GCC Agreements Consider an Attack on One Member an Attack on All Six, but Senior UAE Diplomat Highlights Gaps in Implementation.
Gulf nations must establish a unified air and missile defence network capable of identifying incoming threats, exchanging intelligence and coordinating military responses instantly, according to a senior UAE diplomatic expert.
Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, Deputy Director-General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Adviser at the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that effective regional defence requires preparation long before an attack occurs.
He explained that modern ballistic missiles and drones can reach their targets within minutes of being launched, leaving little time for countries to coordinate their responses once a threat has been detected.
Speaking to, Al Dhaheri outlined how Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries could strengthen their collective security arrangements following renewed calls for closer regional defence cooperation.
His remarks came after Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, urged Gulf states to reinvigorate joint action, particularly in security and defence.
Gargash stressed that the security of GCC member states is interconnected, warning that attacks against Saudi Arabia also pose a threat to the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The renewed focus on regional defence follows Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 and 11, which resulted in multiple casualties.
Energy infrastructure has also been targeted, including an administrative building at Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran that was struck on October 13.
Al Dhaheri said the incidents in Riyadh should concern every Gulf country because their national security interests are closely linked.
GCC Already Has a Collective Defence Framework
The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council has developed several collective defence agreements and institutions over the past few decades.
Al Dhaheri pointed to the 1991 liberation of Kuwait as an important example of Gulf military cooperation, when forces from all six GCC countries participated in the operation, including Emirati soldiers who lost their lives.
That experience subsequently helped shape the GCC Joint Defence Agreement of 2000, which established the principle that an act of aggression against one member state would be considered an attack against all six.
Several regional institutions have since been created to strengthen military coordination.
These include the Joint Defence Council, the Unified Military Command based in Riyadh, the Peninsula Shield Force and a joint naval force headquartered in Bahrain.
In September 2025, GCC defence ministers also agreed to improve regional air surveillance coordination by sharing monitoring information with national operations centres.
They further committed to accelerating the development of a unified early-warning system capable of detecting ballistic missile threats.
However, Al Dhaheri believes that the main challenge is no longer securing political agreement but translating existing commitments into fully functioning defence capabilities.
He explained that GCC countries have demonstrated a willingness to cooperate, but technical differences between radar networks and command systems purchased from various international suppliers continue to complicate integration.
According to Al Dhaheri, strengthening joint Gulf defence therefore requires activating the mechanisms already established by the GCC and transforming treaty obligations into a coordinated operational system.
Such a system would enable all six countries to respond collectively when any member faces a security threat.
How Would a Unified Gulf Missile Defence System Work?
An integrated regional air and missile defence network would connect radar installations across all six GCC countries, allowing them to share information through a common operational platform.
This would enable national command centres to monitor incoming threats simultaneously and coordinate defensive action in real time.
A shared ballistic missile early-warning network would also transmit alerts to operations centres throughout the Gulf immediately after detecting a launch.
However, establishing such a system would require overcoming technical challenges associated with military equipment supplied by different international manufacturers.
Radar networks, command platforms and interception systems would need compatible data connections and secure communication channels to exchange information effectively.
Al Dhaheri also highlighted the importance of establishing agreed rules of engagement before an emergency occurs.
Clear procedures would allow national defence authorities to coordinate their responses without losing critical minutes seeking approval or consulting neighbouring countries during an attack.
The GCC’s Unified Military Command would play a central role in coordinating intelligence exchanges and ensuring that regional defence plans remain updated and operationally effective.
A Layered Approach to Countering Drones and Missiles
Al Dhaheri also called for a multilayered defence strategy capable of responding to different types of aerial threats.
Such an approach would distinguish between relatively inexpensive drones and more sophisticated ballistic missiles, ensuring that appropriate defensive weapons are used against each threat.
Specialised counter-drone systems could be deployed against lower-cost unmanned aircraft, while advanced missile interceptors would be reserved for ballistic missile attacks.
This would help countries manage defence resources more efficiently while maintaining protection against a broad range of potential threats.
He added that the Gulf’s growing defence manufacturing industry is increasingly capable of developing and producing some of these systems locally, creating opportunities to strengthen regional defence capabilities.
Regional Security Extends Beyond Military Cooperation
Al Dhaheri emphasised that effective Gulf security cooperation must also protect essential infrastructure, supply chains and the movement of goods during periods of regional instability.
He cited disruptions to maritime shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as an example of how GCC countries can support one another during a crisis.
When shipping routes faced interruptions, ports and road networks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman helped maintain the transportation of essential goods to neighbouring countries.
The experience demonstrated that regional resilience depends not only on military preparedness but also on coordinated logistics, transport infrastructure and economic cooperation.
The GCC already operates an interconnected electricity network linking all six member states, providing an important foundation for regional cooperation during emergencies.
Proposed water-sharing connections and the development of strategic reserves could further strengthen the region’s ability to maintain essential services and assist neighbouring countries when supplies are disrupted.
Beyond infrastructure and military preparedness, Al Dhaheri emphasised that collective Gulf security also depends on coordinated diplomatic efforts.
He highlighted a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in March 2026 condemning Iranian attacks. Bahrain spearheaded the initiative on behalf of GCC member states and Jordan, with the resolution receiving approval without any opposing votes.
The diplomatic initiative demonstrated how Gulf countries can work together internationally to address shared security concerns.
What Must Change to Strengthen Gulf Defence Cooperation?
Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri believes the current regional security challenges could mark a significant turning point in the development of collective Gulf defence capabilities.
He noted that previous periods of instability had prompted GCC countries to establish institutions and agreements that continued to shape regional security cooperation.
The Peninsula Shield Force, for example, was established during the Iran-Iraq war, while the GCC Joint Defence Agreement emerged following the experience of Kuwait’s liberation.
With all six GCC member states having experienced attacks during 2026, Al Dhaheri anticipates that the latest crisis could encourage another phase of regional defence integration.
At their summit in Jeddah in April 2026, GCC leaders called for stronger military cooperation and accelerated implementation of joint defence initiatives.
However, Al Dhaheri stressed that political commitments alone would not be sufficient to deliver an effective collective security system.
Turning these agreements into practical defence capabilities would require clearly allocated funding, defined implementation timelines and sustained oversight from regional leaders.
Such measures would help ensure that existing agreements translate into operational systems capable of responding effectively to shared threats.
Maintaining National Sovereignty While Strengthening Collective Security
Despite advocating closer defence cooperation, Al Dhaheri emphasised that greater military integration should not come at the expense of individual GCC countries’ sovereignty.
Each member state would continue to exercise independent authority over its defence and foreign policy decisions, including determining its strategic priorities and maintaining international partnerships.
He explained that meaningful regional security cooperation must be based on voluntary commitments and mutual trust rather than restrictions on national independence.
According to Al Dhaheri, the effectiveness of collective Gulf defence ultimately depends on the willingness of each member state to cooperate while preserving its freedom to make sovereign decisions.
His remarks underline the importance of balancing deeper military coordination with the strategic autonomy of all six GCC countries.
