Special to WorldTribune.com In a visit intended to reassure America’s ally Saudi Arabia over Iran’s continued “interference” in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry instead appeared uneasy and defensive, reports said. Kerry met in Riyadh on Jan. 23 with Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers. “Overall […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Concerned they will be overwhelmed by the social and political impact of a huge influx of refugees, wealthy Gulf states are highly unlikely to change their practice of keeping asylum seekers out. The UN convention on refugees, which has governed international law on asylum since World War II, includes exactly zero Gulf […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Qatar and Turkey, the two leading supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, have formed a strategic alliance. Qatar and Turkey agreed to establish a strategic cooperation council that would enhance coordination in the Middle East. The council was decided during the visit to Doha by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — The United States decision to withdraw from the Gulf has had major consequences, a leading analyst said. A senior fellow of the International Institute of Strategic Studies said that Washington decided to reduce its commitment to the Middle East, particularly the Gulf. The analyst, Toby Dodge, said the U.S. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Kuwait plans to host regional natural gas talks. The Kuwaiti Oil Ministry said the Gulf Cooperation Council sheikdom would host an energy conference on Sept. 10-11. The GCC is said to have been concerned over the decline of influence in the global energy market. The ministry said the talks […]
Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Egypt has been deemed a leading supporter of this week’s mutiny within the Libyan military. Diplomatic sources said renegade Gen. Khalifa Hafter was receiving guidance and military support from Egypt. The sources said Hafter, who led an offensive against Islamist militias in eastern Libya, was also receiving money through Egypt […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — The Gulf Cooperation Council has been urged to followvNATO in strategic planning and cooperation. A leading GCC official urged the six Gulf Arab members to study the NATOvmodel in an effort to enhance capabilities and interoperability. The official said the GCC has not exploited the opportunity to cooperate with […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States does not expect Qatar’s crisis with the Gulf Cooperation Council to hamper military relations. Officials said the GCC’s unofficial boycott of Qatar would not harm U.S. efforts to bolster the six-member Gulf Arab alliance. The officials said Qatar, despite its confrontation with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — The Gulf Cooperation Council could collapse amid its crisis with Qatar, a report said. The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies asserted that Saudi Arabia could lose its domination of the six-member GCC. In a report, the center said Riyad faced significant opposition to its policies from Oman and Qatar. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Gulf Cooperation Council has seen the U.S. handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as evidence of President Barack Obama’s weakness, a leading analyst said. [See also: Breaking bad: Qatar splits with Gulf neighbors over Iran in blow to U.S. strategy] Riad Kahwaji, chief executive officer of the Institute for […]