An Arab Alliance Stretches Across the Red Sea

The Gulf Cooperation Council only sometimes lives up to its name -- at least as far foreign policy is concerned. Led by heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- and Qatar to a lesser extent -- the bloc has a shared strategic vision of unity and strength to ensure its security on the world stage. But for all their agreement on these specific foreign policy goals, the member states tend to pursue the goals differently, cultivating diplomatic, security and trade ties in ways that best suit their individual interests, even when dealing with the same country. These differences are on full display in northeast Africa, an overlooked region that presents as many risks as it does opportunities for Gulf states....