The gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states should join forces on security and make joint defence purchases, says a British Army general.
Maj Gen Patrick Cordingley, on loan as a senior advisor to Oman's Sultan Qaboos, told a conference on defence solutions for the 21st century that GCC states should consolidate to counter four potential threats to their peace and stability. Those threats, he said, were hostile neighbours, internal unrest, ballistic missiles which could carry biological and chemical agents, and nuclear weapons.
Cordingley emphasised that he was offering his personal opinions during the speech at Milcon 99. Joint procurement of weapons could bring the right mix of equipment at the best possible value for the region he said.
Joining forces for a collective defence could also even out imbalances in the military manpower available to each state, said Cordingley. Each state's forces might have primary responsibility to their home nation and then be drawn together when needed to form a multi-state team, such as NATO's Rapid Reaction Force. "A common threat scenario must be formed," he said. "The process needs to start now."
Source: Flight International