The GCC-US relationship has been off track for the last few years; we do not see eye-to-eye over many strategic issues. The strategic outlook is more divergent than convergent. I spelled out the security dilemma for the GCC states and our preferences in the region in my last column in Gulf News, comparing US President Barack Obama’s doctrine and King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia’s doctrine, by arguing that from the GCC perspective, King Salman’s emerging doctrine trumps Obama’s.
“The choice is clear; either a retrenching US, projecting weakness and worrying its confused allies about its wavering commitment, and showing a lack of interest in the host of crises bedevilling the region, or abandoning the complete reliance on the US and charting a course of our own with the emerging doctrine of King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia.” (Gulf News, April 4).
Moreover, we see the US pivot towards Asia, and more recently towards Iran, while abandoning its long-held strategy of prioritising the Middle East and the Gulf region, as indispensable.
It is baffling and inexplicable for us to hear Obama suggesting that Saudi Arabia should find a way to share the region with Iran. From our perspective, this is elevating Iran’s stature as well as rewarding its aggression, and appeasing its hegemonic project at our expense. This is an acquiescence of Iran’s bellicosity and destabilising behaviour, which represents an existential threat for both our national security and interests and undermines the security and stability of this pivotal region and harms US interests as well.
We are alarmed at the intensity and the timing of the Saudi Arabia bashing by the US establishment as well as some think tanks and media outlets. It is a repugnant, hateful and opportunist campaign that undermines and destabilises the stability of a staunch ally such as Saudi Arabia.
Little in common
Saudi Arabia bashing is harmful to the US, the GCC states and the Arabian Gulf region. Moreover, it vindicates the argument that the US is no longer a trusted partner of the GCC states to rely confidently upon when push comes to shove.
Clearly, there is an increasing trust deficit and realignment in the US orientation towards Iran — with whom they have little in common — all at the expense of the US’ GCC allies.
Saudi Arabia has been the victim of numerous terrorist attacks and has been at the forefront in combating Al Qaida and sharing intelligence with the US that has thwarted terrorist attacks on US soil, as Obama acknowledges and praises Saudi Arabia for it.
Saudi Arabia and other GCC allies are partners with the US in the anti-Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) coalition and fighting Al Qaida’s deadliest branch Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), as well as the Iranian supported Al Houthis in Yemen with its GCC partners. It is a known fact that Saudi Arabia has been the victim of Al Qaida, Daesh and extremist groups.
Rather than showing solidarity and support to Saudi Arabia and its GCC partners, the US Congress is bent — against the wishes of the Obama administration — on passing a bill to hold Saudi Arabia responsible and liable for the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.
According to the New York Times, quoting Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Adel Al Jubair, the kingdom is threatening to sell off and liquidate its assets in the US totalling $750 billion (Dh2.75 trillion).
Saudi Arabia has warned the Obama administration of the financial repercussions if the US Congress passes the bill.
What kind of a message is the US sending its allies, partners and foreign governments who are investing heavily in the US?
Obama will receive an earful from the GCC leaders in his inaugural visit as the guest of the GCC summit on Thursday — get ready Mr Obama.
Maybe Obama, after his recent successful trip to Argentina — where he showed off his skills dancing the tango — should be reminded by his GCC partners that deeds speak much louder than rhetoric and words, and it takes two to tango. The usual empty rhetoric and verbal assurances of the US’ ironclad commitments to its GCC allies’ security no longer cuts it. Deeds and behaviour speak louder than words. Alliances are a two-way street, not one.
Professor Abdullah Al Shayji is a professor of Political Science and the former chairman of the Political Science Department, Kuwait University. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@docshayji.
