Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
GCC leaders will meet President Barack Obama at Camp David next week. The meeting comes in the context of an Iran nuclear deal and the assurances of the current US administration to the GCC states. There are a number of issues on the agenda of this meeting.
Is this summit going to make a difference to this region? Can the GCC leaders push the US to change its policy on Iran? Is Washington ready to listen to Arab concerns on Iran’s growing influence in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza Strip and Yemen?
Many experts feel there is a genuine fear in the region that the Obama administration is not bothered about the consequences of its policies and is silent on Iran’s intervention in the region through its religious militias and sectarianism.
A recent report of the Washington Institute for the MENA region said that the problems in the region pose threats to the state system.
If Washington allows the situation to deteriorate, it will affect its own interests in the region. The report calls for a strategy to protect the state system by taking practical steps to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria and by cooperating with the Sunni allies.
The report also recommends curbing the influence of Shia militias backed by Iran. If the US wants to restore its credibility in the region it must allow the creation of a strong and united Syrian opposition to change the military balance on the ground.
At the same time, the report finds no problem with signing a nuclear agreement with Iran if that will limit Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and restrict them to peaceful uses.
The Gulf leaders are heading to Camp David to get satisfactory answers and to know the real position of their traditional ally on these issues. The million-dollar question is whether the Gulf leaders will return happy from the summit.
The Peninsula
