President Barack Obama said Thursday that the USA and its Gulf partners should wait to see whether Iraq can resolve its political crisis before committing more financial aid, arguing that the paralysis is impeding U.S.-led efforts to defeat the Islamic State group and reconstruct the war-torn country.
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U.S. President Barack Obama attends a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 21, 2016.
Obama was recently quoted in a U.S. magazine interview commenting on the “complicated” nature of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, and describing some Gulf and European states as “free riders” who called for U.S. action without doing enough themselves.
With the IS jihadists suffering a series of recent setbacks in areas under their control in Syria and Iraq, Washington is seeking more help from the oil-rich Gulf states to keep up the pressure. Obama was speaking after the conclusion of the high-profile summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.
But he also said the U.S. would stay vigilant to Tehran’s activities.
Obama said the fragile cessation of hostilities there is under “tremendous strain” and he decried continued violations, but made the case for sticking to the USA strategy of using diplomatic talks to pursuing a political transition for Syria.
President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, April 19, 2016, en route Ramstein, Germany, to refuel on the way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“We have to be effective in our defenses and hold Iran to account when it’s acting in ways that are contrary to worldwide rules and norms”, Obama said, adding that it was also important to engage the moderate elements of Iran’s government to produce deals like the nuclear accord.
“None of our nations have an interest in conflict with Iran”, Obama said before flying to London, the next stop on his three-country trip.
Iran’s emergence from worldwide isolation following the nuclear deal has anxious the Gulf monarchies, which fear Tehran will be emboldened to seek a still bigger regional role.
But Gulf leaders are offended by Obama’s perceived reluctance to get involved in the region’s problems, and in particular his tilt towards Iran, their rival which they accuse of widespread regional interference.
Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and other Gulf countries share the USA view that IS militants pose a threat, and have joined the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the group.
Riyadh leads an Arab military coalition that for 13 months has supported Yemen’s government in its battle against Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels.
As Obama and the GCC meet, Yemen peace talks in Kuwait were again delayed, diplomats said, pending the arrival of rebel delegates.
Jihadists – including the powerful local branch of Al-Qaeda – have exploited the Yemen conflict to strengthen their presence in the country’s south. Obama said the pact didn’t reflect a shift in US allegiances, however, citing longstanding efforts to bolster the security of Middle East allies.
“It may be breaking down”, the President said. In this context, the leaders announced plans for a significant US-GCC military exercise to be held in March 2017. In highly unusual moves, Saudi state news channel Al-Ekhbaria did not broadcast either the start or the summit meeting or Obama’s airport arrival on Wednesday.
Obama said underpinning the new GCC-U.S. economic dialogue is the need for “an economy that serves all its citizens and respects universal human rights”.
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Obama also told the summit that Washington and Gulf states would work together to lessen the impact of the dramatic fall in oil prices since early 2014.
