SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
US general urges Gulf Arab unity to counter Iran
Kuwait City, Sept 12 (AFP) Sep 12, 2018
US Central Command chief General Joseph Votel urged feuding Gulf Arab states on Wednesday to put aside their differences and unite against Iranian efforts to "destabilise" the region.

"Two of our enduring security threats are present in this region -- the destabilising actions of Iran and violent extremist organisations," said Votel, who heads US forces in the Middle East, ahead of a military conference in Kuwait on Wednesday which is to be attended by Saudi Arabia and its allies, and their bitter rival Qatar.

Votel said it was "imperative" to "enhance and integrate our capabilities for our mutual national security interests" and "rise above all the other aspects".

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies cut all ties with Qatar, demanding that their erstwhile ally cut longstanding ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and take a stronger line with Saudi arch-rival Iran.

The rift has proved a strategic headache for Washington as Qatar provides the main headquarters in the region for CENTCOM while rival Bahrain is home to the US Fifth Fleet.

Kuwait, which along with Washington has led mediation efforts in the crisis, has said it is considering US proposals for a regional alliance to counter Iranian influence.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Rare Trans Neptunian Object Reveals Unexpected Orbital Dance with Neptune
7 Must-Read Astronautics Books for Future Aerospace Engineers
York to Acquire Operations to Boost Ground Connectivity and Mission Delivery

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Framatome opens advanced additive manufacturing hub in France
Framatome to supply nuclear fuel for Barakah plant boosting UAE energy security
Solestial to Accelerate Space Solar Array Production with $12M SpaceWERX Contract

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Germany seeks US guarantee before sending Patriots to Ukraine
Space Force general to oversee U.S. 'Golden Dome' missile shield
China says raised 'solemn representations' with EU over Russia sanctions

24/7 News Coverage
Alien life clues may emerge from deep sea volcanic vents on Earth
ICJ to hand down watershed climate opinion
Japan's Hokkaido sizzles as heat stroke alerts issued



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.