US vows to defend Gulf Arab nations
US President Obama pledges that the US will stand by its Gulf allies amid increasing tensions with Iran.
The leaders issued a joint statement after meeting at Camp David in Maryland saying that the US stood ready to defend the Arab nations.
The statement pledged new co-operation in many areas including counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber-security and ballistic missile defence.
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The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
But several countres didn’t send their heads of state which has been perceived by some as a sign of displeasure at US policy in the region.
So have the Obama aministration’s policies in the Middle East alienated its Gulf allies?
And has Saudi Arabia decided that if the US can’t be relied upon any longer will the region increasingly have to solve its own problems?
Presenter: Dareen Abu Ghaida
Guests:
In Riyadh, Ahmed Alibrahim, who’s a specialist in Saudi affairs.
In Washington DC, John Duke Anthony, founding president of the National Council on US-Arab Relations.
And in London, Ian Black, Middle East Editor for the Guardian newspaper.