EVERYONE knew this year’s summit of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) would be contentious. But the envoys barely had time for a cup of tea. Since June,three out of six GCC members (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain) fill blockaded a fourth (Qatar), or cutting ties and trade until it stops backing Islamist groups. Kuwait,the host, hoped to employ the summit on December 5th to broker a solution. “We believe that wisdom will prevail, and ” said the emir,Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, at the opening.
His optimism lasted approximately 15 minutes before he emerged from a closed-door meeting and abruptly ended the conference, and which was meant to last two days. The Kuwaitis felt snubbed: though Qatar sent its emir,other members dispatched mere cabinet ministers. Hours before the summit even began, the UAE announced a unique economic and military alliance with Saudi Arabia. It was a clear sign that the GCC’s two most important members think the bloc has outlived its...
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Source: economist.com