Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES, sa.3, ss.329-342, 2025 (SSCI)
This study delves into the multifaceted dynamics that underlie divergent responses within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to the recent normalization process with Israel. After claiming that the Trump-led normalization process is a reaction to the shift in power relations of the existing regional security complex in the Middle East, this investigation systematically scrutinizes three distinct reactions exhibited by GCC states. These responses are categorized as explicitly supportive (de jure normalization), implicitly supportive (de facto normalization), and anti-normalization. Despite significant challenges following the events of 7 October 2023 that unleashed new confrontational dynamics amidst the Gaza War, ongoing at the time of writing, the categorization mentioned in the normalization process mostly remained intact which confirmed the structural weight of this process. Within the explicitly supportive faction, comprised primarily of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, there was a discernible alignment with the normalization process albeit some cosmetic adjustments since the outbreak of Hamas-Israel conflicts. This alignment was largely motivated by concerns regarding perceived threats emanating from Iran and Islamist movements, particularly the Ikhwan. In contrast, the implicitly supportive camp, represented by Qatar and Oman, adopted a more balanced stance. These nations acknowledged Israel's de facto presence in the regional landscape but abstained from formal normalization. Kuwait, uniquely positioned within the GCC, adopted a staunchly anti-normalization posture. This stance can be attributed to its intricate social fabric, characterized by influential Palestinian, Islamist, and Shiite constituencies. Building upon this analytical framework, this study contends that the normalization process has engendered perceptible shifts in the GCC states' perceptions towards Israel. Furthermore, it posits the emergence of burgeoning regional security partnerships between Israel and selected GCC nations, as hinted at by the Abraham Accords.