Overview of relations between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Abstract

In 2008, Turkey became the first country that started an institutional mechanism of strategic dialogue with the GCC. This was also important for cooperating in the fields of transport and energy security. GCC states are among wealthiest in the Middle East and Turkey has a strong economic and industrial base, which makes them complementary partners. Therefore their cooperation contributes to the region's wellbeing. This article argues that Turkey-GCC cooperation develops in multiple dimensions and in a mutually beneficial manner, as the both actors share common and vested interests in many of the regional issues. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Frankfurt am Main 2015. All rights reserved.