Saudi King Salman skips Obama summit

[Devil Soul]

Saudi King Salman skips Obama summit
By AFP
Published: May 11, 2015

WASHINGTON: Newly crowned Saudi King Salman has refused an invitation to attend a landmark summit hosted by President Barack Obama, amid angst over US-Iran nuclear negotiations.

Obama had invited six Gulf kings, emirs and sultans to the presidential retreat at Camp David, seeking to shore up wavering trust while Washington negotiates with regional power Tehran.

Obama’s plans now lie in tatters, with only two heads of state slated to attend the Thursday meeting.

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington said Sunday that recently named Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef would instead lead the Saudi delegation to the meeting.

The king’s youthful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — who is tipped as a possible future successor and who has driven recent military operations in Yemen — will also attend.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Salman would miss the meeting “due to the timing of the summit, the scheduled humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen and the opening of the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid,” according to the embassy statement.

Oman’s Sultan Qaboos has been ill, and diplomats said Muscat will be represented by the deputy prime minister.

Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan will attend, according to diplomats, as United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan is also unwell and has not appeared in public since having an operation after a stroke last year.

Even before becoming king, Salman was rumored to be ill, and his son and the now crown prince have played oversized roles in Saudi foreign policy. Saudi Arabia has denied the illness.

As late as Friday, US officials said they had expected Salman to come to Washington, before learning of the change in plan.
“This is not in response to any substantive issue,” insisted one senior US administration official.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa will also miss the meeting, officials indicated Sunday, with the crown prince coming instead.

That means Obama will likely meet only the leaders of Kuwait and Qatar, despite the prestigious invitation.

The White House had hoped the meeting would assuage deep unease over Iran talks, which Gulf states see as a Faustian bargain, and Obama’s perceived disengagement from the region.

Gulf officials had been pressing for the United States to supply advanced weapons like F-35 stealth fighters as well as a written security guarantee in the face of a threat from Iran.

The Iran nuclear deal — which could be agreed in June — would curb Tehran’s nuclear program in return for unfreezing sanctions and funds worth more than $100 billion.

Gulf states fear that money could be used to by arms and further support Shiite proxy groups in the region.

A US official said a key part of the meetings would be to support a common Gulf defence infrastructure.

“This focus on mutual security extends to various areas — counterterrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity and ballistic missile defense,” the official said.

Washington and the Gulf nations are also expected to discuss conflicts across the Middle East including in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.

The Obama administration has privately pressed Saudi Arabia to ease an imprecise air campaign on Yemen that appears to have had a limited military impact but caused humanitarian suffering.

More than 1,400 people have been killed since late March in the conflict, according to the United Nations, and 17 aid agencies have a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Riyadh has offered a five-day humanitarian truce from 2000 GMT Tuesday. Yemeni rebels have said they would respond “positively” to ceasefire efforts and their allies accepted a US-backed truce plan.

Salman said the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen was launched in order to foil a plot by a “sectarian group” to undermine Middle East security and prevent the country from becoming a “theater of terrorism”.

Officials also pointed out that missiles capable of reaching Saudi Arabia fell under the control of Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

 

[Falcon29]

Firstly, nobody said his absence was due to nuclear negotiations. It has more to do with situation in Yemen and current cease fire arrangements. I believe he sent a high ranking minister though.

 

[Madali]

It seems everyone is sick. Maybe Obama should have invited them to a posh hospital instead.

 

[Hindustani78]

Firstly, nobody said his absence was due to nuclear negotiations. It has more to do with situation in Yemen and current cease fire arrangements. I believe he sent a high ranking minister though.

This is due to the Nuclear Negotiations and even the GCC countries are showing that they all are united under one banner along with Egypt, Morrocco, Jordan.

*****************

Updated: May 11, 2015 17:16 IST
Along with Saudi king, most Gulf rulers to skip US summit - The Hindu

At the summit, leaders of Gulf nations will be looking for assurances that they have Obama’s support at a time when the region feels under siege from Islamic extremists and by Iran’s rising influence.
It is not just the Saudi king who will be skipping the Camp David summit of U.S. and allied Arab leaders. Most Gulf heads of state won’t be there.

The absences will put a damper on talks that are designed to reassure key Arab allies, and almost certainly reflect dissatisfaction among leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council with Washington’s handling of Iran and what they expect to get out of the meeting.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced late on Sunday that newly installed King Salman will not be attending. The ostensible reason was because the upcoming summit on Thursday coincides with a humanitarian cease-fire in the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting Shiite rebels known as Houthis.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who is also interior minister, will lead the Saudi delegation and the king’s son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is defense minister, will also attend.

President Barack Obama had planned to meet King Salman for one-on-one a day before the gathering of leaders at the presidential retreat but the White House did not take his decision to skip the summit as a sign of any substantial disagreement with the United States.

The king, who took power in January after his brother King Abdullah died, has not travelled abroad since his ascension to the throne.

The tiny island kingdom of Bahrain said separately that its delegation would be headed by the country’s crown prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain, whose leadership has close ties to the Saudis, is an important military ally of the U.S. It is the longstanding host to the Navy’s 5th Fleet, which is responsible for operations around the Arabian Peninsula and northern Indian Ocean, and is Washington’s main naval counterbalance to Iran.

At the summit, leaders of Gulf nations will be looking for assurances that they have Obama’s support at a time when the region feels under siege from Islamic extremists and by Iran’s rising influence. The Gulf States worry the nuclear pact taking shape with the U.S., Iran and other nations may embolden Tehran to intrude more aggressively in the region.

Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, a professor of political science at Emirates University, said Gulf leaders were staying away to signal their displeasure over the nuclear talks.

“I don’t think they have a deep respect, a deep trust for Obama and his promises. There is a fundamental difference between his vision of post-nuclear-deal Iran and their vision,” he said. “They think Iran is a destabilizing force and will remain so, probably even more, if the sanctions are lifted. ... They’re just not seeing things eye to eye.”

The sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, is among those staying away. The sultanate will be represented instead by the deputy prime minister, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, and other officials, the country’s official news agency announced.

The sultan’s absence comes as little surprise. The long-serving monarch, whose country maintains cordial relations with Iran and has served as a go-between for Tehran and Washington, returned home in March after spending several months in Germany being treated for an undisclosed illness.

Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president’s half-brother, held talks with Obama at the White House last month and is expected to lead the Emirati delegation.

Abdullah, the Emirati professor, said the Gulf ties with the United States remain strong, but they have been strained during Obama’s tenure.

“You just pre-empted the whole meeting with this kind of statement,” he said.

Among those who will be at the summit is the Kuwaiti emir, Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. He arrived at Andrews Air Force Base on Monday, the official Kuwait News Agency reported.

Also, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is scheduled to depart on Monday to take part in the meeting.

 

[Aramagedon]

His health is in very emergency situation. He has not gone abroad since beginning of his kingdom.

 

[IR-TR]

Face-saving measure. They want F-35's, a written security treaty and countless other guarantees against 'Iranian agression', and they won't get any of it. Too much military hardware would alter the balance of military power, while Israel needs to have it's military superiority unchallenged. Aside from that, a lot of countries can probably attack the GCC, including Israel in the future, so a treaty is out of the question.

All they'll get is a 'statement' of how the US is their ally and will try to help them if anything happens. Read between the lines. Obama's NYT interview was full of critisism against the GCC: "their problems are internal political problems". The GCC has a short lifespan. It will get killed.

 

[Hindustani78]

Obama to try to allay Gulf nation leaders' fears about Iran

WASHINGTON — Leaders of Gulf nations unnerved by Washington's nuclear talks with Iran and Tehran's meddling across the Mideast look to President Obama to promise more than words and weapons at Thursday's Camp David summit.

They want commitments from Obama that the United States has their backs at a time when the region is under siege from Islamic extremists, Syria continues to unravel, Iraq is volatile and Yemen is in chaos.

"I think we are looking for some form of security guarantee, given the behavior of Iran in the region, given the rise of the extremist threat. We definitely want a stronger relationship," said Yousef Al Qtaiba, the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the United States.

"In the past, we have survived with a gentleman's agreement with the United States about security. I think today, we need something in writing. We need something institutionalized."

What are the expectations for Obama's meetings with Gulf Cooperation Council countries — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman?

Weapons sales. A renewed call for a coordinated missile defense system. More joint military exercises. Better cooperation on cybersecurity, as well as maritime or border security. Making the countries' defense systems work in concert.

"I don't believe there's a single GCC country that doesn't think a defense shield for the region is a bad idea. I think everyone's on board," Qtaiba said. "The challenge is how do you turn on a regional defense system when different countries are purchasing different equipment and at different paces? How do you link it? How do you get the radars to talk to each other?"

A high-level Saudi official told The Associated Press in Riyadh that his country wants a defense system andmilitary cooperation similar to what the U.S. affords Israel. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to disclose details of the Saudis' wish list at the summit, said they also want access to high-tech military equipment, missiles, planes and satellites, as well as more technology and training cooperation with the U.S.

The U.S. and five other nations are working to finalize a deal intended to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons in exchange for easing penalties that are choking the Iranian economy. The White House says the Gulf countries would be better off with an agreement that blocks Iran's path to an atomic weapon.

But the nuclear deal is not the only source of unease.

Arab allies feel threatened by Iran's rising influence and they fear a nuclear pact will embolden Tehran. They worry that the deal would unlock billions of dollars that Iran might decide to use to further intrude in countries or support terrorist proxies.

Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Obama will have to work hard to convince the Arab allies that they do not need to fear fallout from any nuclear deal.

"Right now they feel that they have no support from this administration so he has a steep hill to climb," said McCain, pointing to Saudi Arabia's decision to act unilaterally in Yemen.

McCain, R-Ariz., said that's why the Saudis gave Gen. Lloyd Austin, head of the U.S. Central Command, only "an hour's notice they were going to strike Yemen." Saudi Arabia has led airstrikes against Iranian-backed rebels who have toppled the Yemeni government.

Secretary of State John Kerry is optimistic, but declines to say exactly what kind of reassurances Obama is prepared to offer at Camp David.

"I can just tell you in general terms that they have to do with the intensifying and strengthening of the security-military relationship between the United States of America and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as dealing with new challenges that we face in the region, foremost of which is the Iranian interference in the affairs of the countries of the region," Kerry said Friday in Paris.

He said U.S. officials were fleshing out a series of commitments that will create a "new security understanding, a new set of security initiatives,"

Standing by his side, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he expected the summit would lead to ways that "joint action will be more effective and more expansive in all areas, whether it relates to cybersecurity or defense against ballistic missiles or military training or equipping."

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, chairman of the Senate panel overseeing foreign aid, warns against the U.S. offering a massive arms package in exchange for Gulf nations' support of a nuclear deal. Graham, R-S.C., said he isn't opposed to upgrading the military capabilities of Arab allies, but "if it has a hint of being connected to the Iran deal, I will do everything I can to make sure they never get one bullet or one plane."

Jon Alterman at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington wonders if there is anything the United States can do that would reassure the Gulf states when it comes to Iranian expansionism in the region.

"It seems to me that where they most want reassurance is where the U.S. is both least able and most unwilling to provide it," he said. "My guess is that the summit is going to leave everybody feeling a little bit unsatisfied."

Associated Press writers Bradley Klapper in Paris and Aya Batrawy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.

 

[Wine&Steak]

I think USA has a moral duty to do the following

(A) Assure and convince GCC countries that a mainstream Iran is good for everyone including GCC.

(B) some points with regard to GCC<-->US relations
- The GCC countries are the most rational and stable of the countries in middle East
- GCC countries have been long term allies of USA. you can never turn your back on your allies, since
the repercussion will be felt from your other friends in another time, if you do.
- GCC middle east is of utmost importance for US geostrategic interests, even long term.

Based on these points, I think USA should provide a security umbrella and assurance to the leaders
during this Camp David summit. Obama has nothing to lose politically anyway, hey it is his last year anyway.
All US presidents do these sort of "tough to sell" agreements during this time.

 

[Hindustani78]

GCC Countries are working for its Missile defence shield along with an united military force similar like on the pattern of EU response force.

 

[Hindustani78]

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 - 11:26
US rejects notion that Gulf rulers snubbing Obama summit | Zee News

Washington/Riyadh: The White House scrambled on Monday to counter perceptions that the Saudi king`s absence from a summit later this week could undermine US efforts to assure Gulf states it remains committed to their security against Iran.

King Salman`s abrupt decision to skip the US-hosted regional talks shows how Gulf rulers, displeased by what they see as US indifference to Iranian meddling in the Arab world, may hesitate to bless any final nuclear deal that President Barack Obama reaches with Tehran.

Some analysts and diplomats in the Middle East and Washington interpreted Salman`s decision to stay away from the meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat as a diplomatic snub, despite denials from US and Saudi officials.

Riyadh announced the monarch`s no-show on Sunday, only two days after the White House had said he would attend the summit of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states - some of which have long doubted Obama`s commitment to confronting Iranian backing of Shi`ite Muslim militias across the region.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who has strong ties with the US political and security establishment, will represent Saudi Arabia at the May 13-14 gathering along with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king`s son who serves as the defence minister. Since Salman took power in January, the pair have determined most aspects of Saudi policy.

Only two of the Gulf countries - Kuwait and Qatar - will be represented by their ruling monarchs, while the others are all sending lower-ranking officials.

US officials quickly pushed back against the notion that Gulf Sunni Muslim allies downgraded their attendance to signal dissatisfaction with Obama`s diplomacy with Shi`ite Iran ahead of an end-June deadline for a landmark nuclear deal.

The White House announced that Obama had spoken by phone to Salman on Monday, apparently trying to show that relations remained on a solid footing.

Ben Rhodes, Obama`s deputy national security adviser, said the administration was convinced that the president would have "the right group of people around the table" at Camp David. "These are the people responsible for the security portfolios," he told reporters in a pre-summit briefing.

The Saudi government said one of the main reasons Salman was skipping the summit was because it overlapped with a five-day humanitarian ceasefire in neighboring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is waging a bombing campaign against Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

The leading Gulf Arab power has complained for years that Washington does not take its concerns seriously. It thinks a focus on settling the dispute over Tehran`s nuclear program has distracted the United States from more urgent problems and raised questions about broader security commitments to the region.

Reuters

 

[Hindustani78]

Obama, Saudi King Salman discussed summit, Yemen: White House| Reuters

Mon May 11, 2015 7:04pm EDT
Related: World
WASHINGTON

Saudi King Salman phoned U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday to "express his regret" for missing a high-profile summit at the White House and Camp David this week, and review the agenda for the meeting with Gulf leaders, the White House said.

The leaders agreed they need to work with other Gulf states "to build a collective capacity to address more effectively the range of threats facing the region and to resolve regional conflicts," the White House said, noting the leaders agreed on the need for urgent humanitarian aid in Yemen.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

 

[Hindustani78]

King Salman, Obama vow to strengthen Saudi-US ties | Arab News

JEDDAH: ARAB NNEWS

Published — Wednesday 13 May 2015

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Barack Obama held talks on telephone on the upcoming Camp David summit. Obama emphasized his country’s commitment to defend the Kingdom’s security and stability.

King Salman expressed his regret for not being able to attend the summit and said he was sending Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to represent the Kingdom at the US-GCC summit talks.

During the telephone conversation, both leaders emphasized the strength of the two countries’ partnership and agreed to continue their close consultations on a wide range of regional and international issues.

They also agreed on the necessity of working closely, along with other GCC states, to resolve regional conflicts, according to a statement issued by the White House.

Regarding Yemen, Obama welcomed Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a cease-fire and both leaders agreed on the need to address the urgent humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

Speaking about Iran, the two leaders stressed the importance of a comprehensive agreement between the P5+1 and the Islamic Republic that would ensure the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said the Camp David summit would focus on military cooperation, terrorism and regional challenges.

 

[azzo]

Just give us this Obama and we'll forget your insolence. .

 

[black-hawk_101]

I think now all of the ME is looking to buy and built more and more weapons to fight in Yemen. I think the economy of ME might shrink quickly.

 

[Hindustani78]

Tue May 12, 2015 9:13pm EDT
Related: World, Saudi Arabia
Obama to meet with Saudi crown prince, deputy in Oval Office on Wednesday| Reuters
WASHINGTON

Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef (L) arrives with his uncle King Salman (R) to greet U.S. President Barack Obama at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, January 27, 2015.
Reuters/Jim Bourg

President Barack Obama will meet with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office on Wednesday, ahead of a summit with other Gulf Arab leaders, the White House said on Tuesday.

Obama had planned to hold a separate meeting with Saudi King Salman, but the king instead decided to send his deputies to the summit in what was widely viewed as a snub to the United States over its engagement with Iran.

The summit with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council begins Wednesday evening with dinner at the White House and continues on Thursday at the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland.

Obama invited the GCC nations - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman - after six world powers reached a framework agreement with Iran that would give Tehran sanctions relief for reining in its nuclear program.

The Gulf nations are worried a nuclear deal would strengthen Iran at a time when the majority Shi'ite nation is exerting influence in regional trouble spots including Yemen and Syria.

Obama used an interview with a London-based Arabic newspaper to reiterate U.S. support for its Gulf allies on the eve of the summit.

"There should be no doubt about the commitment of the United States to the security of the region and to our GCC partners," he told Asharq al-Awsat.

Obama said Iran engages in "dangerous and destabilizing behavior" across the region and that was why it was important to reach an agreement to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

He advocated engagement as a way to integrate Iran into the global community and strengthen its more moderate leaders.

"But even if the political dynamics in Iran do not change, a nuclear deal becomes even more necessary because it prevents a regime that is hostile to us from obtaining a nuclear weapon," he told the newspaper.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Eric Beech)