Hosting the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for a rare summit on Thursday at the Camp David presidential retreat, Obama faced the challenge of allaying their fears of US disengagement at a time of Middle East upheaval while also pressing the oil-rich Gulf states to work together in their own defence.
Ben Rhodes, US deputy national security adviser for strategic communication, told reporters at a press conference in the meeting that the leaders discussed the threat to the GCC from Iran, as well as ISIL, and ongoing regional conflicts in the region, including Syria, Yemen, and Libya.
"The president and his team were able to provide an update on the status of the nuclear negotiations...and also Iran's destabilising actions in the region, which touch upon the security of our GCC partners," Rhodes said.
"We have a very clear view of where we will be headed in terms of those issues."
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pulled out early, sending Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his place in a move widely interpreted as a snub that reflected Gulf frustration with the Obama administration.
The White House has said such decisions were not intended as slights and has portrayed the summit as more than just a symbolic event. But US officials have also played down the prospects for any major breakthroughs.
White House officials have said there would no formal defence treaty, as some Gulf leaders sought, and that the summit is likely to produce more modest announcements on integrating ballistic missile defence systems, easing weapons deliveries and increasing joint military exercises.
More report coming soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment