US reaffirms commitment to GCC countries

OREANDA-NEWS. President Barack Obama today reaffirmed the US' "iron-clad" commitment to help defend the six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) member states against any external threats.

Wrapping up a summit with GCC leaders at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, Obama pledged the US will help Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia deter possible threats from Iran or Islamic militants.

The US "policy to use all elements of power to secure our core interests in the Gulf region, and to deter and confront external aggression against our allies and partners as we did in the Gulf War, is unequivocal," the US and GCC countries said in a joint statement.

Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir called the summit "unprecedented," with the Gulf countries meeting with the US "to take their relationship to an entirely different level."

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdel-Aziz chose not to attend the summit, sending crown prince Mohammad bin Nayef and his son deputy crown prince and defense minister Mohammad bin Salman to lead the Saudi delegation.

Al-Jubeir tried to dispel suggestions the Saudis did not get all they wanted from the summit.

"This is not about concessions. This was not a negotiation. This was not ... where we say ‘we want,' and the US says, ‘we give.' "

During the summit, US administration officials walked through the details of the negotiations between the US and its P 5 + 1 partners and Iran regarding Tehran's nuclear program. The parties unveiled a framework agreement on 2 April and are trying to reach a comprehensive accord by 30 June that will swap nuclear concessions for sanctions relief.

Obama said a number of Gulf leaders raised concerns that Iran will use the additional resources that easing sanctions would provide to engage in destabilizing activities in the region. During the nuclear talks, Iran's oil sales have been limited to 1mn-1.2mn b/d, down from 2.5mn b/d in 2012. And Iran has vowed to ratchet up exports quickly if sanctions are lifted.

Obama said he shares the Gulf leaders' concerns. He said he pointed out that much of what he described as Iran's destabilizing behaviors are are "low tech, low cost" activities that can be addressed by beefing up defenses.

Al-Jubeir said the Saudis welcomed the discussions about the nuclear talks.

"We were assured that the objective is to deny Iran the ability to have a nuclear weapon, and that all pathways to a nuclear weapon will be closed," al-Jubeir said. "We will follow the talks and see before we can judge in terms of whether or not the Iranians will do what it takes to reach a deal."

In the wake of the summit, the GCC states are committing to developing a region-wide ballistic missile defense capability, including creation of an early warning system. The US will help conduct a study of the GCC countries' missile defense architecture and provide technical assistance to develop that early warning system.

The US and GCC countries will hold military exercises to address asymmetric threats such as terrorist or cyber attacks. They will increase their participation in maritime task forces to address terrorism and piracy. Obama will send a military team to the region to increase frequency of special forces training to counter terrorism. And his administration will do what it can to fast-track arms transfers to the GCC.

The US and GCC countries reaffirmed their willingness to normalize relations with Iran if Tehran ceases its alleged destabilizing activities.

While the summit was designed to show solidarity with the GCC countries, Obama tried to temper the message, noting that "the purpose of security cooperation is not to perpetuate any long-term confrontation with Iran or even to marginalize Iran."

Obama was cautious in responding to a question about Syria and allegations that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's military had used chlorine as a chemical weapon against civilians.

Obama said US officials are working with international chemical weapons monitors to investigate the allegations. And if the charges prove credible the White House will "reach out to patrons like Russia to put a stop to it."