Plans to step up military co-operation between the US and GCC countries could be on the cards, said US Ambassador to Bahrain Thomas Krajeski.

America had a strategic vision for the region, which included the proposed missile defence shield to defend Gulf countries against threats - including Iran, he added.

"It is part of a GCC strategic vision that is being formulated and the US might partner with the GCC as an organisation or with individual members, as we increase security and defences here," he said.

He welcomed proposals for a Gulf union and said this would benefit individual countries in several areas such as economic policies, commercial licensing, customs and taxation - as well as security.

"It is a great advantage to these countries particularly and the United States as we try to secure the Arabian Gulf and we always support this kind of co-operation among GCC countries," he said.

"The US will not make a statement regarding the political union as it is for the individual countries of the GCC to decide and its people, whether they want greater political union with one another."

He cited the example of the European Union, pointing out that did not result in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain or the UK giving up their sovereignty.

"I would argue this process will take many years and no one knows what shape it might take (in the GCC)," he added. – TradeArabia News Service