U.S. strengthens ties with Gulf states
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, December 26, 2000
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.
Tuesday, December 26, 2000
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