RIYADH: Strategic relations between the Kingdom and the United States at the economic, political and security levels are key to ensuring peace and stability in the region, said Ali Tulbah, strategic adviser to former US President George W. Bush.
Speaking to our sister publication Asharq Al-Awsat, Tulbah said the outcome of the joint Gulf-US summit, which was held in Riyadh recently, has been fruitful.
He asserted the need to preserve such strategic alliance and work jointly to create what could be called a “peaceful Iran” to reinstall stability in the region. “The Gulf-US strategic alliance should be enhanced due to Iran’s aggressive activities and its proliferation in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and other parts of the region.”
Tulbah confirmed that “the US support for Syria’s opposition, though important, remains insufficient to change the equation of the current war or conflict in that part of the world.” He said the US and its allies in the Gulf should develop stronger tools to boost their joint strategic work in the long term, adding that in this partnership, Saudi Arabia is considered the key in fighting extremism and terrorism.
Tulbah, who is managing director at McLarty Associates, an international strategic advisory firm, said that currently it is no secret that Russia and Iran are providing the Assad regime with necessary support, the reason why the conflict has been dragging.
However, he said, the US has never believed that a military solution could be placed in Syria. “Russia does not want to play an effective role in the ongoing talks in Geneva because it wants to keep (Bashar) Assad on top of the regime.”
Commenting on the current visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the United States, Tulbah said it comes as part of a strong US-Saudi political will to enhance mutual relations at the economic, security and military levels.
He said US-Saudi relations are considered the base of the US-Gulf ties, which aim at providing political and security stability in the region.
Asked about the reasons for the US position on Syrian and prolongation of the rule of the Syrian regime, Tulbah said: “At the beginning, the US had cared to help solve the crisis peacefully. However, the Syrians did not imagine that the situation could worsen to such a tragic level, and to shake the stability of our regional allies.”
Tulbah asserted that “Saudi Arabia has proved it was playing an effective role in leading the international efforts to fight terrorism across nations, and therefore, mutual cooperation between Riyadh and Washington to fight terrorism is the base for any international achievement.”
Speaking to our sister publication Asharq Al-Awsat, Tulbah said the outcome of the joint Gulf-US summit, which was held in Riyadh recently, has been fruitful.
He asserted the need to preserve such strategic alliance and work jointly to create what could be called a “peaceful Iran” to reinstall stability in the region. “The Gulf-US strategic alliance should be enhanced due to Iran’s aggressive activities and its proliferation in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and other parts of the region.”
Tulbah confirmed that “the US support for Syria’s opposition, though important, remains insufficient to change the equation of the current war or conflict in that part of the world.” He said the US and its allies in the Gulf should develop stronger tools to boost their joint strategic work in the long term, adding that in this partnership, Saudi Arabia is considered the key in fighting extremism and terrorism.
Tulbah, who is managing director at McLarty Associates, an international strategic advisory firm, said that currently it is no secret that Russia and Iran are providing the Assad regime with necessary support, the reason why the conflict has been dragging.
However, he said, the US has never believed that a military solution could be placed in Syria. “Russia does not want to play an effective role in the ongoing talks in Geneva because it wants to keep (Bashar) Assad on top of the regime.”
Commenting on the current visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the United States, Tulbah said it comes as part of a strong US-Saudi political will to enhance mutual relations at the economic, security and military levels.
He said US-Saudi relations are considered the base of the US-Gulf ties, which aim at providing political and security stability in the region.
Asked about the reasons for the US position on Syrian and prolongation of the rule of the Syrian regime, Tulbah said: “At the beginning, the US had cared to help solve the crisis peacefully. However, the Syrians did not imagine that the situation could worsen to such a tragic level, and to shake the stability of our regional allies.”
Tulbah asserted that “Saudi Arabia has proved it was playing an effective role in leading the international efforts to fight terrorism across nations, and therefore, mutual cooperation between Riyadh and Washington to fight terrorism is the base for any international achievement.”
