The 44th summit of the Supreme Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held in Doha was a significant event in several respects. The session was the first to be held outside Saudi Arabia since 2018 and the first hosted by Qatar since the signing of the Alul Declaration in January 2021, ending a three-year diplomatic rift between a number of Arab countries. The summit was held under special circumstances as the region is witnessing many unfortunate events, most notably the ongoing carnage in the Gaza Strip. These are extremely important developments that have many implications for the GCC and regional security…

Amidst the ever-evolving global politics, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened their inaugural summit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the end of October 2023. This summit signaled evolving ties between the two blocs at a time when the focus of attention of the whole world is on Israel’s genocide in Gaza. ASEAN comprises ten member countries which include Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The organization was founded in 1967. Meanwhile, the foundation of the GCC was laid in 1981, and it consists of Oman…