U.S. strengthens ties with Gulf states

WASHINGTON — The United States plans to deepen military ties with Gulf Arab states.

U.S. officials said this will be a priority for the incoming administration of President-elect George W. Bush. The officials said the effort began under the outgoing administration of President Bill Clinton.

Washington is promoting military ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council ahead of its scheduled meeting on defense cooperation on Dec. 30. The meeting will last two days and the GCC is expected to reach decisions on procurement and development of regional defense programs encouraged by the United States.

The GCC is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC has sent troops in the peacekeeping operation in Kosovo.

The officials said the developing U.S. military ties are meant to ensure increased oil production in an effort to maintain price stability. But they said the relationship will not translate into more U.S. troops in Gulf countries.

The United States has an armored task force in Kuwait and an air wing in Bahrain. But most of its forces are offshore.

"We must be conscious of Gulf domestic concerns -- quite healthy in their skepticism -- that question the value of having U.S. forces stationed on Muslim soil," U.S. State Department official Ronald Neumann said. "We must carefully weigh the trade-off between operational efficiency and becoming a political lightning-rod for those who call for an end to the foreign military presence and preservation of traditional lifestyles."

Last month, Kuwait foiled a plot to bomb U.S. and Western installations around the Gulf. U.S. officials said they expect further attempts to expel U.S. forces in the area.