BICOM

US President Barack Obama welcomed representatives from the six countries which comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) yesterday, to begin a two-day summit addressing regional issues. Obama will primarily attempt to allay Gulf state fears over the nascent nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany).

Iran and the P5+1 agreed a framework to a comprehensive nuclear deal last month, paving the way for negotiations to begin towards a long-term accord, which must be agreed by June. However, both sides have since indicated differences over fundamental issues such as Iran’s use of advanced centrifuges and the pace of sanctions relief.

The emerging agreement has sparked fears among the GCC countries, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, that not only would it leave Iran a nuclear threshold state, but that it would also empower Tehran to further destabilise the region. Saudi Arabia is already engaged in a military conflict with the Iranian-affiliated Houthi rebels in Yemen, fearing Tehran’s ambitions of regional hegemony.

The White House is keen to secure support for the Iran nuclear deal from the Arab world, as it would help convince the US Congress to approve the agreement. The summit, which began yesterday at the White House and will continue today at Camp David, is a key component of this effort. President Obama met yesterday with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and emphasised the “extraordinary friendship and relationship” between the two countries, adding “we are continuing to build that relationship during a very challenging time.”

It is thought that the talks will focus on strengthening defence cooperation between the United States and the GCC countries, to help allay Gulf security worries. White House spokesman Josh Earnest commented yesterday, “That will be the essence of the conversations: What can we do to modernize and deepen that security cooperation?” Although defence links may increase, Washington remains committed to ensuring Israel’s regional military qualitative edge.