The cold war which lasted for six frosty years between the largest country of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Saudi Arabia and its smallest partner, Qatar, seems to have come to an end.
With the thawing of tensions between the two old allies, the GCC states will usher a new era between the two countries. It will also strengthen the strategic, trade and investment ties in addition to blow more winds into the much needed renewed vigour and zeal for the GCC's states to be collectively better off.
The Saudis and Qataris did not not see eye to eye over various issues ranging from regional relations to ties with Israel.
They also differed on Al Jazeera satellite channel's news and documentaries programmes, which collectively infuriated the Saudis and poisoned relations and drove the GCC as an organisation towards heady atmosphere at a time of utmost urgency to face off the impending dangers and challenges surrounding the most strategically important region in the world.
The GCC's leadership, intelligentsia and public welcomed the Saudi-Qatari reproachment in the hope that divergence of views in any alliance is a normal behaviour with the hope that both sides and the alliance as a whole has learned and benefited from the lessons of that episode.
We have to remember that we continue to live in a dangerous and uncertain environment and in a tough neighbourhood with host of calamities and crises surrounding us. We witness with a lot of unease the United States presidential elections, and follow the different views and statements by the leading candidates in both parties over issues related to our region and well being.
As we wonder where we are heading with the departure of the Bush administration in ten months from today and leaving all the mess and mayhem his administration bequeathed to his successor.
Challenges
The host of challenges and threats range from the Iraqi quagmire on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the American war which has transformed Iraq into a fragmented failed state with all the ensuing consequences to itself and the region.
Then there is Iran with its tilt towards the hardliners with the conservative victory in the Majlis Alshura elections and its ongoing stalemate and defiance over its nuclear programme, in addition to the stalemated peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis and the Lebanese stagnation and paralysis to the country and the political system which add to the host of the challenges which we in the GCC states have to grapple with.
All these challenges necessitate a collective stance and united front among the GCC states led by Saudi Arabia to lessen their negative consequences and to be well prepared to deal with the concomitant results on the region.
In the final analysis, the Saudi-Qatari rapprochement will cement a much needed collaboration between the countries of the region to strengthen and solidify this alliance at a much needed time.
The GCC as the most successful Arab regional alliance was born out of security needs to meet the host of challenges from the Iranian revolution and the Iran-Iraq war.
It faced its toughest test with Saddam Hussain's brutal invasion and occupation of Kuwait, which proved the lack of the collective GCC's state effort to form a deterrent counter-power and we failed to establish an indigenous regional balance of power.
Quarter of a century later, the very same challenges continue to bedevil us. But we know we are better off with all players small and large are onboard to shoulder our responsibilities, even we might disagree, without losing sight of the common interests and fate, and to face the challenges with untied rather than a fragmented front.
Dr Abdullah Alshayji is a Professor of Political Science and Head of the American Studies Unit at Kuwait University.
