ABU DHABI // The refugee crisis and the expansion of terror groups and organised crime are some of the issues Gulf nations will have to deal with to ensure peace, integrity and stability, the chairwoman of the Emirates Policy Centre has said.
Dr Ebtisam Al Ketbi cited the emergence of non-state actors, the changing nature of the world economy, the expansion of the arms trade and climate change as major points in her recap of last year’s Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate.
“We see an urgent need to create a new system of international relations that responds to these shifts,” she said. “We think the new system must be based on the two key concepts of justice and credibility to consolidate world order and ensure its continuity.”
She said the United States was still considered the most influential global power that could effectively deal with challenges facing the GCC.
“The US itself believes deeply that no global power can commit itself to ensuring GCC security as it does, particularly in times of crises,” she said. “I do not know if this is still the belief of GCC countries.”
Other important points raised last year included the lack of an effective European security strategy towards the GCC.
“A secure GCC is in the interest of the European Union,” she said. “Nato is also interested in developing forms of cooperation with the GCC to reach an effective security partnership but some factors seem to have impeded that endeavour.”
cmalek@thenational.ae