US President Barack Obama and delegations from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were among 20 delegates gathered around a large rectangular table at the Camp David retreat on Thursday. If it were not for the strong objection of the Gulf countries on the West-Iran nuclear deal, this meeting would not have been held. The US would then have simply sent a letter through its diplomats to the Gulf explaining the details of the deal without taking into account the GCC’s opinion. During the weeks that followed the declaration of the initial deal with Iran, the Gulf-American relationship was unsettled and several Gulf officials expressed their anger through direct and indirect messages protesting against the deal and the American standpoint. A diplomatic and media battle erupted between the two sides; President Obama tried to diminish the importance of the Gulf Arabs’ objections saying that the deal is rewarding for the Gulf countries and the whole world. Obama tried to sarcastically respond to them at times, and at other times he speciously considered that Iran deserved more attention, and that the US would make up for the years of estrangement between the two countries, saying that the Iranian regime fits as a partner of the United States in the Middle East.
All this increased the anger of the Arab countries that expressed their rejection, sending signals of possible suspension of all further cooperation. The six Gulf nations were all united and they all stood together against the deal; this is what strengthened their objections. They were keen to have a precise stance and made sure not to get drifted behind wide-ranging and unrealistic demands.
The Gulf countries did not abruptly stand against the nuclear deal or against reconciliation with Iran, because it is actually in favor of the Gulf region and the world; however they objected on freeing the Iranian beast from its cage without providing security guarantees. Finally, Obama, the strategist of the deal, wanted to meet the Gulf representatives all together; they came to the Camp David compound with a joint memo. The summit that was preceded by several meetings was not limited to the discussion of the nuclear deal and Iran, as it also included all the issues that are threatening the region.
The demands of the Gulf countries were not entirely fulfilled but at the same time, President Obama did not ignore their objections. The US assured that it would protect the Gulf region from any external attacks, namely from Iran. They all agreed to peacefully resolve the issues; all this was under a new title: The Arab-US Strategic Partnership.
Three long meetings were the best way to conclude this political storm and fold away the worst chapter of relations between the Gulf and the Americans seen in 70 years. The GCC did not get a stamped and sealed pact from the president vowing to protect the Gulf, but the defense commitments were clear and similar to those vowed by former US presidents.
The most important point in my opinion was that Gulf diplomats were not content with a silent objection this time. On the contrary, they raised their voice, objected and insisted on their demands, thus saving the old vital and important strategic relationship. Meanwhile, Iranian leaders, who decided to fire on a Singaporean ship, did not succeed in sabotaging the negotiations. And their threats did not succeed in breaking the naval blockade on Yemen — a move that was intended to sow discord between the two sides.
