Syria, Iraq, the Levant, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Opportunities for Defense Cooperation

The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of  Defense for Middle East Policy reports to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, which is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest that relate to the nations and international organizations of Europe (including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the Middle East, and Africa, their governments and defense establishments; and for oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs in these regions.

The United States and its partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have a wide array of shared security interests in the broader Middle East but one of the most pressing is the conflict in Syria. At present U.S. and GCC goals are in general alignment but significant gaps in both specific policy goals and the execution of policy continue. The Capstone will focus on how to better align and execute U.S. and GCC policy with respect to Syria, Iraq and the greater Levant. This may include the use of specific incentives towards the GCC as well as better integration of certain U.S. and GCC capabilities (e.g. special operations forces). It may also include some assessment of whether the effort required to align policy and execution will produce sufficient return to warrant the effort.