Dr Shamlan
The Camp David summit has established a new structure for an unprecedented defence cooperation between the GCC and the United States, since the White House spokesman confirmed that they are open to discuss granting Gulf partners a key position as allies outside the NATO coalition. Moreover, the US administration undertakes to work together to curb Iran’s regional threat and intervention in Arab countries’ internal affairs.
The question here at the end of the summit is did Gulf Arab countries develop a new unifying policy towards Iran? In other words, did they have a common vision in case the relation between the US and Iran is tense when discussing the nuclear weapons file?
When relations between Iran and America worsen, the Gulf States are usually struck with fear because Iran is looking at them as allies of the United States. So they are the most affected party in any serious conflict between Tehran and Washington.
It is ironic that the United States is getting closer to Tehran, which is worrisome. This is because we are suspicious of US policy and we have a perception that any rapprochement between the two countries will be at our expense.
The GCC countries have confirmed that we have common interests with Iran; the nature of this relationship on historical, cultural, economic and political levels is ancient. That’s why the GCC countries are keen to establish good relations with Tehran.
Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani confirmed after the end of the summit that all countries of the Council welcome the nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1. He hoped that this agreement will be a key factor for stability in the region.
Realistically and practically, we are bound by military agreements with the United States, but that does not prevent the emergence of fundamental differences between Washington and the Gulf on a number of Arab issues.
For example, the US stand on the Palestinian issue, where the United States has promised to support peace in the region by accepting the establishment of two states, Palestine and Israel. But the US policy began to back away from its previous position of supporting the Palestinian issue and peace in the region.
Gulf States are wary of American silence on the Iranian expansion across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and the Gaza Strip.
Note that the United States knows exactly the extent of the support and penetration Iran has in Iraq.
Gulf States have entered into an alliance with the United States to fight terrorism in the region, especially against ISIS, but the United States turned a blind eye and kept an inherent silence towards Hezbollah in Lebanon that is supported by Iran in both Syria and Iraq, and
possibly Yemen.
Establishing strong security ties with Washington should not prevent us from continuing to balance our policy and also establishing strong relationships with everyone, especially the superpowers, like France which is keen to build firm relations with Arabs, reflected through the stand of Paris in its support for some
Arab issues.
Finally, it is required from the GCC countries after the US security guarantees, to focus on the real issues of development for the sake of building modern civil states founded on political participation, promotion of the concept of citizenship and rule of law.
GCC states should focus on modernising their countries and societies, as this is the real security for survival and stability.
The writer is a researcher and political analyst.
