U.S. President Barack Obama is hosting (AP) representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates at Camp David on Thursday. The president is expected to address concerns over nuclear negotiations with Iran and affirm Washington's continued commitment to security in the Gulf region. Gulf and U.S. leaders are also expected to discuss (WSJ) the conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian officials have reportedly vowed to match (NYT) Iran's nuclear capabilities.
ANALYSIS
"Washington
should pledge to respond to any military attack against its Gulf
partners—whether by Iran or any other adversary—with military force. It should
follow that pledge with a more formal commitment to multilateral security by
establishing a political–military consultative mechanism and a joint command
structure, and finally a legally binding collective defense treaty," write Bilal
Y. Saab and Barry Pavel in Foreign Affairs.
"As
the GCC states become more independent, the United States will not always like
the solutions they come up with to deal with regional security issues, such as
the ongoing civil war in Yemen or whatever crisis might arise next. At times,
U.S. officials will need to seek difficult compromises. But in most
circumstances Gulf state ownership of their
problems—and the solutions—will lead to better outcomes than American-led
efforts, particularly military intervention," write Jeremy Shapiro and Richard
Sokolsky in Foreign Policy.
"But
while many are optimistic over a final deal—coming with a change in Iran's
attitude and behavior—many are preparing for the post-agreement consequences.
And any unexpected turn of events, such as Iran engaging further in Yemen, Iraq,
Syria, or Lebanon, could jeopardise the past several years of diplomatic talks,
held in good faith, and transform the region into the roaring furnace of the worst conflict
the world has yet known," writes Camelia Entekhabifard in Al
Jazeera.
