National Capabilities

[ trends ]
tatives of the defense ministries
of many countries of the World
also discussed the main security
challenges in the region of
Middle East and North Africa
and suggested possible ways to
withstand them.
Especially should be noted
harmonious work of organizers
who created perfect conditions
for exhibitors and the
media, and for visitors of this
wonderful exhibition as well.
the NeW Role
of ARAB stAtes.
MoVe fRoM
IMpoRteRs to
eXpoRteRs of
MIlItARy pRodUCts
IDEX-2013 was a bright reflection
of The Gulf Cooperation
Council’s countries approaches
and long-term priorities.
The Cooperation Council for
the Arab States of the Gulf (CCA-
SG), also known as the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC), is a
political and economic union
of the Arab states bordering the
Persian Gulf and located on or
near the Arabian Peninsula.
Established in Abu Dhabi on 25
May 1981, the original Council
comprised the 2,500,000 square
kilometers Persian Gulf states
of the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Qatar and Kuwait. The unified
economic agreement between
the countries of the Gulf Cooperation
Council was signed on
11 November 1981 in Abu Dhabi.
GCC countries own 40% of
all the oil reserves in the world.
In addition, this group of countries
since 1982, holds enough
coordinated policy for the development
of their countries,
which lately is increasingly ex-
24 / Ukrainian DEFEnSE rEViEW / JanUary-MarCH 2013
tended to defence and security
segment, military and militarytechnical
projects.
According to the reports of
military manufacturers and specialized
organizations that were
announced at the IDEX-2013,
during the last two years, Arab
countries military spending exceeded
$ 300 billion. It means that
the group of the countries is on
the one of the first places in the
world considering ratio of military
spending comparing to GDP.
According to the Arab Monetary
Fund, for the past 10 years, most
of Arab countries spend more
than 7% of GDP per year on defense
and arms. Interesting fact
is that from 2002 to 2010 the countries
of the region spent $ 680 bil-
lion on the needs of their defense
industries. On average it amounted
to $ 75 billion per year. However,
in 2011 and 2012, the average
annual rate was $ 161 billion.
GCC countries are spending
on military purposes 2/3
of all Arab countries spendings
amount. Total expenditure
on defense in Gulf countries
amounted to about $ 460 billion
in the period from 2002 to 2010
and more than $ 200 billion during
the years 2011-12.
Having such a background,
approaches of the GCC states to
ensuring of their security and defence
have a significant impact
on regional and global trends
in production and procurement
of military products. First of all