Saudis’ Failed Attempt

"The aim of postponing the announcement of the union between the six countries is to bring onboard all the members and not only two," said the Saudi Foreign Minister, who indicated that more study was required before bringing it to a vote. The delay in the decision was in fact due to internal dispute amongst GCC members, the most important of which was Riyadh's perceived hegemony over the entire Persian Gulf Arab states and the fact that Saudis consider a big brother role for themselves within a proposed union. Moreover, the other states of the GCC are concerned that Wahhabi interpretation of Islam promoted by Saudi Arabia might also be given prominence over the entire region if the GCC opted for a union. The idea of a single currency has also been frozen for some time now due to the same Saudi role in the future union.

Since the establishment of the GCC in 1981, Saudi Arabia has been capitalizing very much on Iranophobia in order to bring together the whole region under its umbrella to withstand Iranian influence. The reality, however, is that Saudis have attempted to dominate GCC decisions and make the Council a tool for its political ends. Cognizant of this Saudi design, the other GCC members have resisted such attempts and would probably do the same in the future.

Pending the decision to make its hegemony over the GCC legal, Saudi Arabia has not shied away from acting unilaterally to promote its interests. Following mass protests in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia dispatched thousands of its troops to that country in February 2011. These forces, along with Bahraini security forces, have been responsible for the killing of tens of innocent people who had called for justice and an end to discrimination in their country.

Iran has criticized the union plan. "Any kind of foreign intervention or non-normative plans without respecting people's vote will only deepen the already existing wounds," said the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. From the beginning of the crisis in Bahrain, Iran has constantly called for the respect of the aspirations of the Bahraini people, particularly the Shiite majority. Iran has denied any interference in the uprising of the people as has been determined by the November 2011 report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry investigating the uprising and its aftermath, where it categorically stated that there was no clear evidence of Iran's incitement to the unrest in Bahrain.

The problem in Bahrain has no relation whatsoever with the differences between Bahraini Shiites and Sunnis, as they have lived together for centuries. The problem, rather, rests with the abuse of power by a ruling elite, particularly those associated with Saudi Arabia, determined to deprive the majority of people from exercising their legitimate rights. 

The best way to address the existing problem in Bahrain is to open up a genuine dialogue between the government and the opposition on the basis of democratic norms and rules without implicit or explicit foreign intervention. Resorting to impractical means such as a union, without a clear and real endorsement from the people in all countries concerned, will only complicate the situation.