As changes unfold in both Syria and Yemen, it appears that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states under the leadership of Saudi Arabia is insisting that President Obama take an unequivocal stand vis-à-vis Iran and its subversive tactics in both Yemen and Syria.
Just a few days before the Camp David summit, Saudi leaders made it perfectly clear that their country would never sit idly by while Iran continues its spoiling role in this part of the region. Implicit in these statement is that when it comes to the core interest of Saudi Arabia, it leaders will not take permission from anyone to act against aggression.
Perhaps, it is the first time that leaders from the GCC approach the American administration with a united position with regard to both Yemen and Syria. Equally important, the summit will be held after Iran has suffered a strategic setback in Yemen and its proxies in Syria are fighting an uphill battle against the Syrian rebels. Hence, the meeting may mark a turning point in the relationship between the GCC and the United States. If not satisfied with American assurances, key countries particularly Saudi Arabia will act independently of the United States and will make sure that Iran’s bullying will not go unchecked.
It is not secret anymore that Obama’s approach to Iran does not resonate well in our region. It is widely believed that Obama is driven by one objective: To hammer out a deal with Iran so that he can claim a kind of legacy in the Middle East. Having appeased Iran, many observers in this part of the world suspect that the nuclear deal with Iran will only equip it with more resources to be used to fund Iran’s bid for regional hegemony. Therefore, Saudi Arabia should not accept less than a written security guarantee against Iran’s aggression. To be sure, the Saudis have legitimate security concerns. Unlike the Israelis who see nuclear Iran as a strategic threat, the GCC suspect that Iran would continue its meddling in Arab countries particularly in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. For this reason, President Obama needs to balance between his new approach and
America’s ties with its long-standing allies.
It is not as if the Gulf countries have no leverage over the American administration. As a matter of fact, the Arab coalition’s achievements in checking the Houthis’ expansion in Yemen and the Syrian rebels’ success in turning the tide against Assad have helped the Saudis convince Obama to reverse his views with regard to Syria. Now, President Obama has begun to see the survival of Assad is the key reason for the ability of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) o draft fighters. A week ago, President Obama asked his national security team to revise his strategy on Syria to reflect this new realization.
The fact that Obama began to see eye to eye with his Arab counterparts is a setback for Iran. For sure, Iran had miscalculated when its leaders sought to offer cooperation with the United States without pledging to play a positive role in the regional stability. Iran’s foreign minister stopped short of begging the American administration to work out an alliance!
Seen in this way, the Gulf countries will seek an explicit American commitment to their security. Additionally, it is likely that the United States will provide the Gulf countries with the most advanced military hardware. And yet, nothing would allay their fears of Iran more than a clear message to Iran that the security of the Gulf region is a redline that could not be crossed especially by Iran.
In brief, the Gulf countries will never acquiesce to the growth of the Iranian power in this part of the world. This is exactly what the Obama administration should internalize. Moreover, the United States needs to take explicit steps to show its commitment to the stability of the region. For instance, Washington can help create a buffer zone along the Syrian-Turkish border. A step like this would for sure impress Arab leaders and would convince Iran that there would be a huge price tag for meddling in the internal affairs of the Arab countries.
