Context:
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) launched its ‘Vision for Regional Security’
Key Highlights:
- Based on the principles of shared destiny where ‘any threat to one is treated a threat to all’.
- Emphasises joint efforts to avoid use of force and prioritise dialogue and negotiation to resolve their differences.
- Urges member states to combat terrorism, extremism, and money laundering.
- Activate Arab Peace Initiative to reach a just resolution of Palestinian cause in accordance with 2-state solution.
GCC:
- GCC – A political, economic, social, and regional organisation among the members in the Gulf region.
- Established in – 1981
- Members – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE
- Organizational Structure –
- Supreme Council – Highest authority comprising of the head of the states
- Ministerial Council – Consisting of foreign ministers.
- Secretariat is located in – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
India and GCC:
- The GCC states are amongIndia’s key suppliers of energy, especially oil
- Annual remittances from Indians in these countries are worth an estimated USD 4.8 billion.
- UAE and Saudi Arabia were India’s 3rd and 4th largest trading partners respectively (FY 2022-23)
- UAE also features in the top 10 sources of FDI inflows into India.
- Both India and the GCC are members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
- Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait participates in India’s mega multilateral Milan Exercise
- Oman has provided the Indian Navy access to the Port of Duqm SEZ which is one of Indian Ocean’s largest deep-sea ports
Source: Eurasia Review
Previous Year Question
India is a member of which of the following?
1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations
3. East Asia Summit
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) India is a member of none of them
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Options 1 and 2 are not correct. Indian is not a member of APEC and ASEAN.
