Speaking with the Gulf International Forum, MEI Visiting Research Professor Dr Abdullah Baabood says that although increasing levels of cooperation and integration could help alleviate the many economic, social and political problems in the Gulf region, the Gulf crisis has essentially shattered the GCC vision as well as objectives of coordination in all fields. It further complicates the already chaotic region by inciting instability and increasing security concerns. Read the full article here.

Image caption: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks at the Gulf Cooperation Council Defense Ministerial in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia May 14, 2014.  Photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo, shared on Wikimedia Commons