The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)

News Summary:

On March 21, 2026, HE Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Ambassador to the United States, chaired a high-level meeting in Washington with Jordan, occurring within the framework of Bahrain’s presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Earlier on the same day, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visited Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, underscoring Egypt’s solidarity and full support for GCC states amid current regional developments and condemning Iranian attacks on Arab states, asserting that Egypt-Gulf security is indivisible. Previously, on March 20, Gulf states began weighing their options as an existential threat from the Iran conflict intensified, with reports indicating disruptions to daily life in Dubai due to warnings of incoming missiles and drones. Also on March 20, foreign expert Robinder Sachdev highlighted the evolving role of GCC countries, US involvement, and Israel's stance amid rising concerns over Iran, noting significant shifts in military and diplomatic strategies prompted by ongoing tensions in the Gulf and wider Middle East. This followed news on March 19 that Gulf states were navigating a complex situation as the Iran conflict stretched into its third week, quietly encouraging the U.S. and Israel to achieve a decisive outcome while simultaneously attempting to maintain relations with any future Iranian government.