New faces keep spirit of mediation alive at GCC summit

Tuesday's meeting a first for the successors of elder statesmen from Kuwait and Oman

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah attends the 41st summit of the GCC in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

The Gulf Co-operation Council summit was marked by the presence of a new guard in the two countries that have played important roles for reconciliation in the six-member group.

Sultan Qaboos of Oman and Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait, elder statesmen and pillars of Gulf diplomacy, died nine months apart last year.

But Tuesday's high-level gathering was named after them in a tribute announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the opening address he delivered on behalf of his father, King Salman.

Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Nawaf, succeeded the country’s late statesman, Sheikh Sabah, in September.

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim, Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahad bin Mahmoud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Bahrain Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

A general view of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit, is pictured via screen at the media centre in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

U.S. White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner attends the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim at the summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC at the summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Oman Deputy Prime Minister Fahad bin Mahmoud signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah Al Hajraf attends a press conference at the Gulf Cooperation Council's 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah Al Hajraf. AP Photo

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud holds a press conferece. AFP

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud holds a press conferece. AFP

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud holds a press conferece. AFP

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah al-Hajraf gestures during a news conference at the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah al-Hajraf and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speak during a joint news conference at the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY

As defence minister and a major figure in the security forces, he supported the high-profile diplomacy of Sheikh Sabah, who played a major role in resolving conflicts in the region and abroad.

Kuwait’s leading diplomatic role was highlighted by the appointment of Abdullah Bishara as the first GCC secretary general in 1981.

The veteran Kuwaiti diplomat held the position until 1993.

The country’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Al Sabah, also attended Tuesday’s summit.

Educated in France, he first held the position in 2006 and has been the public face of the country’s diplomacy, centred on resolving problems.

Sheikh Ahmed announced on Monday that an agreement had been reached to open the airspace and borders between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The deal breaks the ice in relations between the two countries marked by tension since Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt boycotted Qatar in June 2017 over its support of extremist groups.

After a call among Sheikh Nawaf, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim and Prince Mohammed, Qatar announced that Sheikh Tamim would attend the GCC summit for the first time. The 41st summit is being held in Al Ula in Saudi Arabia.

Sheikh Nawaf said he hoped the summit of "reconciliation" would be good for the GCC countries to address "all related issues and return matters to normal".

But the ground for Kuwait’s diplomatic success was laid by Sheikh Sabah, who played a main role in containing a 2014 GCC row after Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar.

He sought to repeat the feat by making several initiatives to heal the schism that broke out in mid-2017.

Kuwait’s new ruler is maintaining a GCC-focused foreign policy while building ties with Iran.

A similar approach has marked the foreign policy of Oman, where Sultan Haitham succeeded Sultan Qaboos in January 2020.

Oman Deputy Prime Minister Fahad bin Mahmoud at the GCC this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia

Sultan Qaboos ruled Oman for nearly half a century and, although Oman’s diplomacy has not been as high-profile as Kuwait, it has been similar in focusing on building GCC unity while maintaining open channels with Iran.

Together with Sheikh Sabah, the late sultan represented an older generation of Gulf leaders who valued balance in their foreign policy.

Oman’s Foreign Minister is the British-educated Badr Al Busaidi, whose late father was a long-time personal adviser to Sultan Qaboos.

He replaced Yusuf bin Alawi in August, having served under him as the Foreign Ministry’s secretary general.

At the Manama dialogue in December, Mr Al Busaidi stressed that inclusiveness and multilateral approach were central to regional security.

Omani Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said is leading the sultanate's delegation to the summit.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, led the UAE's delegation to the summit.

Sheikh Mohammed said on Tuesday that "the spirit of co-operation is renewed for the benefit of our peoples".

"In 1981, 40 years ago today, our Father and Founder of our country, Sheikh Zayed, hosted the first summit in Abu Dhabi with his brothers, the leaders of the GCC countries," he said.

"The process of co-operation is the legacy of these leaders for their people. Today, the march is strengthened."