GCC To Include Morroco And Jordan

GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al Zayani:

Leaders of the GCC welcomed the request of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to join the council and instructed the foreign minister to enter into negotiations to complete the procedures

This is a very significant regional development. Some quick notes and questions:

• The group is obviously transforming from a regional club to a club of Monarchs.
• This is a highly defensive move (some call it: “survival mode”) against the Arab Spring
• This could become a rival to the Arab league led by Egypt, a country that is now classified by the monarchs as a “troublemaker” with all its silly talk of democracy and freedom and people power.
• If this becomes a fully fledged alternative to the Arab league, where does this leave countries like Lebanon?
• Will Egypt counter that move and create a “League of Free Arab nations” for all countries that went through their Arab spring revolutions?

Update: Make sure you read Sultan Al Qassemi’s take on the matter..

Update 2: March Lynch’s take