Gulf security pact gains ground with Kuwait cabinet approval

ABU DHABI — Kuwait has approved a Gulf treaty in a move meant to improve regional security against threats from Iran and Iraq.

The Kuwaiti Cabinet endorsed a Gulf Cooperation Council treaty that commits each of the six members to defend each other from external threats. The treaty was signed by GCC leaders at their summit in Manama in December.

"Out of Kuwait's belief in the principle of collective security for the GCC states, the council of ministers approved a draft bill accepting the joint defense pact of the GCC," a Kuwaiti Cabinet communique said.

Arab diplomatic sources said the Kuwaiti decision stemmed from last week's summit by GCC senior officials in Saudi Arabia. The meeting focused on coordinating efforts for joint Gulf defense.

The bill requires ratification by Kuwait's feisty parliament. If ratified, the emir of Kuwait would then approve the treaty.

The treaty would also bolster GCC defense. The council plans to expand the military force from 5,000 to up to 22,000 troops.

In February, the GCC launched a regional early-warning system to detect air threats in a project valued at $88 million. The system also contains a regional military communications network estimated at more than $70 million.

The GCC treaty was said to have received a major boost when two of its members — Bahrain and Qatar — resolved a long-standing territorial dispute. Bahrain was a holdout in the regional defense treaty.