You are here

Welcome reassurances

Apr 23,2016 - Last updated at Apr 23,2016

The recent talks President Barack Obama held with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and other Arab Gulf leaders in Riyadh may have allayed some of their fears and anxieties about the US policy towards Iran and also vis-à-vis regional conflicts, especially the war in Syria.

Obama had been put under increased pressure by the Arab Gulf countries as well as other Arab capitals over his country’s perceived withdrawal from or weakened presence and influence in the region, which, these Arab countries believe, leaves the door open to Iran to expand its influence or, on a different front, like Syria, to the growing Russian military presence.

At his meeting with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Obama “reaffirmed the policy of the United States to use all elements of our power to serve our core interests in the Gulf region and to deter and confront external aggression against our allies and our partners”.

The US president expressed understanding for the Gulf Arab countries’ “concerns about Iranian behaviour”, which the US shares “even with the nuclear deal”, as it shares concerns about the wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

The Gulf countries, said Obama, cooperated “extensively” with the US to counter terrorism and curb financing terrorism activities, which justifies Obama’s commitment to deter and confront aggression against Gulf Arab states.

How that plays out on the ground is yet to be seen, particularly considering Obama’s remarks in a magazine interview — which appeared to cast the GCC states as “free riders” and in which he urged them to share the region with Iran — which upset the Gulf states.

The US president’s assurances to the leaders of the region may not be fully shared by his successor to the White House.

Reengaging the US in the Middle East, making it play its traditional role as strategic partner in the defence of its allies and partners in the region, is a declared objective of the Arab world.

 

Doing so, the US will help avoid the creation of a dangerous vacuum that other major powers, notably Russia, may seek to fill.

up
33 users have voted.


Newsletter

Get top stories and blog posts emailed to you each day.

PDF