Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. XLVIII

No 2

10-January-2005

REGIONAL

Saudi-Bahraini Differences On Unilateral Pacts Sour GCC Harmony Efforts

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain continue to be at odds over the issue of the latters free trade agreement with the US which Riyadh regards as a move undermining GCC unity and weakening its collective negotiating position. Disagreement over the issue prompted Saudi Crown Prince Abd Allah to stay away from the GCC summit hosted by Bahrain in December 2004. Despite...