France and the Arabian Gulf

France has had a long-standing and historically significant relationship with the Arab world; one that is bolstered by the growing volume of bilateral trade in oil and gas between France and the GCC states. However, a more stable partnership has been established through investment and security. French security commitments manifest themselves in three ways: through support in the fight against terrorism, contributions to the defense capacities of the GCC countries and a willingness to participate in a collective system to safeguard Gulf security. Defense cooperation is strongest with the UAE, boosted to a great extent by the Offset Program. This has opened up new avenues for cooperation in other economic and strategic fields. Although bilateral defense cooperation reached its apogee in the 1990s and now faces serious competition from the USA, major French industries in sectors such as water, electricity, transportation and communications, as well as health and education have been able to export their expertise and participate in the training of local companies.

The relationship between France and the GCC states has encouraged cooperative ties between the GCC and the European Union (EU), which largely inspired its own model for regional integration. In this book, reinforced cooperation between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council is an important element in facilitating constructive exchanges on the stabilization of the Middle East, the resolution of crises and a reorientation towards a multi-polar world order.