Gulf Cooperation Council

Why in news?

• Recently, for the first time since its inception, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced its ‘Vision for Regional Security’ in Riyadh.

About GCC

• It is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
• It was established in 1981.
• It aims to achieve unity among its members based on their common objectives and their similar political and cultural identities, which are rooted in Arab and Islamic cultures.
• Presidency of the council rotates annually.

Vision for Regional Security of GCC

• Security of the Region: It is based on the principles of shared destiny and indivisible security of the member states, and any threat to one is a threat to all the member States.
• It aims to preserve regional security and stability, tackle the challenges facing them and settle the disputes through peaceful means.
• Counter Terrorism: It urges the member states to combat terrorism and extremism, stopping the flow of money to the hands of the terrorists and combat money laundering.
• Maritime Security: It calls for regional and international coordination to ensure maritime security and ensure trade and energy supply routes.
• As all the GCC countries are key suppliers of energy, any disruption in the sea lines of communication will directly affect their national economies.
• Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy: As the threat of a nuclear arms race in the region looms large with Iran and Israel having nuclear programmes, the GCC has urged to make the region a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (WMDFZ).
• Comment on Israel-Hamas War: The document has come at a time when the West Asian region is engulfed in a turmoil since the beginning of the Israel–Hamas War in 2023.
• The vision document makes explicit reference to the Israel–Palestine issue and calls for activating the Arab Peace Initiative.

India’s Relations with GCC

• Strategic Partnership: GCC is a major trade and investment partner for India. While India has close economic and political ties with all countries, the strategic partnership exists with only Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman.
• Energy Security: GCC contributes to 35% of India’s oil imports and 70% of gas imports. India is executing the second phase of its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Several GCC countries have expressed their interest in the same.
• Trade and Investment: GCC countries contribute to about one-sixth of India’s total trade. However, trade and Foreign Direct Investment from GCC is dominated by UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• India also has a significant trade deficit with the GCC which is driven by India’s dependence on GCC countries for oil and gas imports.
• Free trade negotiations between the two parties have also been delayed.
• Defence Relations: India’s defense engagements with these countries are gaining significant momentum.
• From mere training of security personnel in various military institutes, they have extended ties to other areas, including intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and cybersecurity.

Way Ahead

• Realpolitik and strategic interests have been instrumental in bringing India closer to the Gulf countries, with both sides willing to overlook some of their ideological differences lately.
• In the long run, defense industrial cooperation and technology transfers will likely come to form a pivotal component of their strategic cooperation.
• The possibility for such an outcome remains high as Gulf states, like India, are also embarking on rapid military industrialization programs and in search of alternative arms vendors.
• The convergences of interests – political, economic, technological and military-security –therefore, could pave the way for the furtherance of India’s military diplomacy with the Gulf states.

Regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Why in news?

• The Artificial Intelligence (AI) space has seen certain developments crucial to its regulation in recent years.

About

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology with the potential to fundamentally change the way we work and live. However, it also poses significant risks that necessitate regulation.

Why does AI need to be regulated?

• Potential for Harm: AI systems can cause harm if not properly managed.
• It includes violation of an individual’s privacy and data rights, discrimination in access to services, or being subject to false or misleading news and information.
• Ethical Concerns: Unethical and improper use of AI systems could impede the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – 2030, weakening ongoing efforts across social, environmental, and economic dimensions.
• Workforce Impact: AI has the potential to disrupt the labour market, especially in developing and least developed countries, making their labour market increasingly vulnerable to the use of such systems.
• Risk Management: Different applications of AI can pose vastly different types of risk, at different levels of severity and on different timescales, depending on the technology and context of deployment.
• Trust and Transparency: AI affects the way we perceive reality, which can generate issues of trust. If we cannot tell the difference between something written by a machine or a human, we will be in a very confusing world.

Different Approaches to AI Regulation

• United Nations Resolution on AI: The United Nations has acknowledged the risks associated with AI systems and the urgent need to promote responsible use.
• It recognizes that unethical and improper use of AI systems could impede the achievement of the SDGs.
• It highlights the potential adverse impact of AI on the workforce, particularly in developing and least developed countries.
• European Union’s AI Act: It establishes rules and regulations governing AI systems.
• It adopts a risk-based approach, categorising systems into four categories: unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal risks.
• It prescribes guidelines for each category and bans applications that risk citizens’ rights.
• AI Regulation in the UK and China: The UK and China have introduced laws on AI. While the specifics of these regulations vary, they reflect a shared recognition of the need for oversight and control of AI technologies.
• AI Mission in India: India has launched the AI mission, reflecting its commitment to harnessing the potential of AI while mitigating its risks.
• As one of the largest consumer bases and labour forces for technology companies, India’s response to AI regulation will be crucial.

Challenges of Regulating AI

• Rapid Evolution of AI: The field is constantly evolving, making it difficult to write future-proof regulations.
• Balancing Innovation and Safety: Striking a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring safety is a challenge.
• International Cooperation: Effective AI regulation requires international cooperation to avoid a fragmented landscape.
• Defining AI: There’s no universally agreed-upon definition of AI, making it difficult to regulate effectively.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• Regulating AI is a complex task that requires a nuanced understanding of the technology and its implications.
• Regulation is needed to ensure that AI is used for the good of our societies and their sustainable development. It should regulate AI developments and applications so that they conform to the fundamental rights that frame our democratic horizon.
• Governments across the world are grappling with the regulation of AI. The UN, EU, UK, China, and India have all made strides in this direction.
• These efforts to formalise AI regulations at the global level will be critical to various sectors of governance in all other countries.