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 United Arab Emirates, would continue to host a major U.S. military presence.

“Over the past several months, Qatar has experienced some friction with GCC partners, namely Saudi Arabia and UAE, principally due to Qatar’s perceived support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and radical jihadist groups operating in Syria,” U.S. military Central Command chief Gen. Lloyd Austin said.

“Despite this, Qatar represents a voice able and willing to take a lead in the GCC’s ongoing pursuit of improved regional stability and security.”

Qatar hosts two forward headquarters and facilities for the U.S. Army and Air Force. Officials said the U.S. military presence could exceed 10,000 over the next few years.

In testimony to the House Armed Services Committee on March 5, Austin urged Washington to continue to support Qatar, deemed the GCC member closest to Iran. The general cited the billions of dollars worth of U.S. weapons procured by Doha over the last two years.

“Qatar’s multiple FMS requests and renewed Defense Cooperation Agreement
provide tangible examples to this end,” Austin said. “They warrant our
continued close engagement and support.”

Austin also cited cooperation with the UAE. Centcom has determined that
Abu Dhabi, which conducted a U.S. Army live fire exercise, has taken the
lead in air and missile defense efforts in the Gulf.

“Given their potential to enhance the AOR’s [area of operations]
stability by providing leadership and military capability, they [UAE] most
certainly merit our continued close engagement and tangible
foreign military sales support,” Austin said.

  Centcom, Centcom chief boosts military ties with Qatar despite its split with Gulf allies over Iran, Gen. Lloyd Austin, Gulf Cooperation Council