The Member States of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG);

Recognising that they are bound by special relationships and characterized by common features and similar regimes based on the Islamic doctrine;

Building on the defence policy of the CCASG, which is based on the principle of integrated and interdependent collective security, and relying on Allah (God) and then on the individual capabilities of the Member States for the purpose of defending the entity, components, interests, territories, airspace and territorial waters of these States;

Believing in strengthening the ties and maintaining closer cooperation between them in order to safeguard their independence, sovereignty, and heritage; and in order to achieve integration, alignment of ranks and unification of efforts to achieve joint defence and to maintain peace and security therein, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the CCASG as well as the Charters of the League of Arab States and the United Nations; and

Seeking to promote stability and tranquillity in their countries to achieve the aspirations of their peoples towards a better future culminating in the unity of their states;

The Member States have thus agreed as follows:

Article 1

Pledges

The Member States confirm their respect for and commitment to the provisions of the Charter of the CCASG and the Charters of the Arab League and the United Nations and take it upon themselves to resolve all disputes through  peaceful means, both in their mutual relations among themselves or in their relations with other countries, and to refrain from the use or threat of force in any manner not compatible with the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 2

Aggression and Threats

Member States consider that any attack on any of them is an attack on all of them and any threat to one of them is a threat to all of them.

Article 3

Repelling Aggression and Threats

Pursuant to the legitimate right of individual and collective defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, Member States shall be committed to proceed promptly to assist any State or States within the Gulf Cooperation Council that suffer aggression or the threat thereof, by taking any necessary action, including the use of military force, to repel such aggression and restore the original status of legitimacy, security and peace, and shall immediately notify the League of Arab States and the UN Security Council of the occurrence of the aggression and the actions taken.

Article 4

Consultation

The Member States shall, whenever one or more Member States believe that their territorial integrity or political independence face external danger, meet for consultation to assess the risk involved and to take appropriate action.

Article 5

Purposes of the Agreement

The Member States shall endeavour to give increasing importance to the building and development of human resources and achieving self-sufficiency of national cadres as well as achieving compatibility of systems and the exchange of information in order to serve the development of the concept of joint defence to confront threats and assaults of all forms and types (including terrestrial, air, marine and missile attacks and weapons of mass destruction).

Article 6

Al-Jazeerah (Peninsula) Shield Force

Member States are committed to developing Al-Jazeerah (Peninsula) Shield Force according to what has been agreed previously and shall work towards developing it in the future, according to the capabilities of each Member State in order to serve its role in the concept of joint defence of GCC states.

Article 7

Joint Exercises

Member States shall endeavour to secure military cooperation between their forces by conducting joint exercises to upgrade their individual and collective capabilities to achieve the best level of coordination according to the concept of joint defence.

Article 8

Military Industry

The Member States shall endeavour to emphasize the importance of establishing and developing the military industry base and encouraging the private sector to invest in this area to provide its basic needs of hardware and military equipment.

Article 9

Joint Defence Council

Upon a resolution of the Supreme Council of the CCASG, the Joint Defence Council shall be composed of the Member States and shall operate under the guidance and supervision of the Supreme Council. The competence of the Joint Defence Council shall be the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement in addition to any other functions and competencies as may be assigned to it by the Supreme Council.

Article 10

Supreme Military Committee

Upon a resolution of the Joint Defence Council a Supreme Military Committee shall be formed and its functions and competencies specified in the said resolution.

Article 11

Military Committees

Military committees shall be formed by virtue of a resolution of the Supreme Military Committee. The meetings of such military committees shall be coordinated by the Assistant Secretary-General for Military Affairs of the CCASG. The said resolution shall also determine the functions and competences of the said committees.

Article 12

Non-Conflict

Without prejudice to the agreements or treaties in force and the right of all Member States to enter into agreements with other countries, Member States undertake not to enter into any agreement contrary to the provisions of this Agreement and its objectives.