By Bader Al-Sharhan
KUWAIT, May 22 (KUNA) -- The US is committed to security and territorial integrity of GCC countries, and the two sides discussed, during a recent summit in Camp David how to improve defensive and military capabilities of Arab Gulf countries, US envoy to Kuwait said.
US President Barack Obama, at the May 14 Camp David summit with leaders of six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, committed to making sure capabilities of GCC countries be increased to counter "whatever threats the GCC perceived," Ambassador Douglas Silliman said.
This includes working on missile defense systems, early warning system in the GCC, as well as creation of Arab rapid response forces for counter-terrorism and peacekeeping missions, Silliman said in an interview with KUNA.
These, however, were ideas discussed by the American and Gulf leaders, and the details would be discussed in coming months, said Silliman.
The objective is to boost the "ability of the GCC countries, individually and collectively, to deal with their own defense" capabilities, he said.
The US and GCC leaders, he noted, agreed to expand security cooperation, like military training and exercise, ways to counter terrorism, including the fight against ideologies of the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaeda.
Silliman said Obama was aware of the concern in region about the US relationship with Iran and particularly nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic, thus wanted to speak to them directly.
"We believe the concerns of the GCC leaders were substantially addressed in the summit," he said, describing the discussions as "good and frank." Obama made a very strong reiteration of commitment over sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all GCC countries, just like Washington did in the Gulf war and liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation in 1991.
"This (Gulf region) is a very important part of the world for the us, politically, economically. The US has continued strong interest and continues to help partners in the region to deter and confront any external aggression, to discourage actors who would wish to do harm to our GCC partners," said Silliman, echoing Obama sentiments.
American and GCC leaders, meanwhile, agreed that any final nuclear agreement regarding Iran should cut off all pathways for Iran to develop nuclear weapons, which would be good for regional security, added Silliman.
Obama, he said, also acknowledged "there were continued Iranian interference in the region.
"If Iran can be a partner for peace and prosperity in the region then that is generally a good thing, but the focus now was preparing the GCC partners to confront potential aggression on their territories, but to prepare them politically and economically" against any attempt to destabilize the region, he said.
Meanwhile, the GCC and US leaders also discussed the conflict in Syria and how it was important to solve it peacefully, support moderate opposition and seek a negotiated political transition from current regime of Bashar Al-Assad to a new regime that actually takes into account interests of all Syrian people.
There was a consensus that Assad cannot be part of this new regime, he said.
The Syrian conflict has entered its fifth year, killing some 250,000 people and displacing more than 12.5 million people.
The leaders also agreed to help the Iraqi government confront ISIL and its extremist ideology, in addition to helping Baghdad to help all communities in Iraq to be part of the political spectrum.
The Iraqi government and popular mobilization forces are joining hands to fight ISIL out of the city of Ramadi, the capital of Al-Anbar Governorate, a move the US will not oppose as long as the popular mobilization militias work under the government's command.
Obama and GCC leaders also called providing humanitarian aid to needy people in Yemen, and supported UN efforts to reach a negotiated settlement in the country, as well as full implementation of UN resolution 2216.
Saudi Arabia, acting at behest of legitimate leadership in Yemen, had led a coalition of Arab and Islamic countries to fight Houthi militias with aim of protecting the Yemeni people and restoring legitimacy.
The coalition had launched Operation Restoration of Hope now to provide aid, resume the political process and rebuild the country.
The US and GCC called for forming a government of national unity in Libya and commitment to reaching a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians. (end) bs