Four months after Saudi Arabia's King Salman skipped Barack Obama's Camp David summit for Gulf leaders – a move interpreted by analysts in the West as a snub to express discontent over US policy towards Iran – the two heads of state have met in circumstances that seem much less tense.
The Gulf states remain deeply and legitimately concerned that the nuclear deal will free up Iran’s financial capacity to continue its destructive meddling in this region, including fomenting unrest in Yemen through its support for the Houthi rebels. One significant change since that briefing in May is that the nuclear deal is now certain to survive a challenge by the US Congress, with the president having collected the pledges of a sufficient number of Democratic senators to ensure his veto cannot be overridden.
Mr Obama is right to value the support and regional leadership of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states, including the UAE, because the GCC offers an important counterweight to Tehran’s mendacious interference. The US president has said he will make sure that Iran does not break its side to the nuclear deal, but the GCC will be most effective in this if it has the full support of the United States, beyond the security guarantees Mr Obama has made.
A joint statement from the White House following Friday’s meeting made special mention of Yemen, including the need for a political solution based on the GCC initiative that will return peace, stability and security to the troubled Arab country, easing the humanitarian crisis. This point was underscored by the tragic events that unfolded in Marib province on Friday.
Much is made in diplomatic circles of the “mood music” that accompanies meetings such as the one between King Salman and Mr Obama. In contrast to the apparent misgivings that were at play in May, the mood was much more positive that the Gulf states’ concerns are being taken seriously by Washington. Ultimately it is actions that will show whether this optimism is justified, but this is a reasonable start.
