Shafaqna Pakistan: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain from Tuesday to Thursday, giving the Trump administration an opportunity to directly brief Gulf allies on its preliminary agreement with Iran.
During his visit to Bahrain, Rubio will also hold talks with representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a bloc of six Sunni monarchies that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Although GCC members have generally welcomed efforts to end the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, several Gulf leaders have expressed concerns over certain aspects of the memorandum of understanding signed by US President Donald Trump last week.
A major concern among regional officials is the proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund for Tehran. Gulf leaders fear that Iran could use the funds to restore its military capabilities and continue supporting allied groups across the region.
The MoU’s failure to address Iran’s ballistic missile program is also worrying Washington’s Gulf allies, who have been buffeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks in recent months.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar all host US military bases that in turn make up the backbone of America’s security architecture in the Middle East.
Should any of those countries rethink their security relationship with the US, even in a subtle way, it could have a significant impact on US military strategy in the region.
The Rubio trip comes amid a broader flurry of Iran-related diplomacy.
On Wednesday, Trump signed the Iran MoU – which starts a 60-day clock for Washington and Tehran to reach a more comprehensive agreement – while visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Versailles.
Over the weekend, a team of US negotiators led by Vice President JD Vance attended talks mediated by Qatari and Pakistani officials in Switzerland.
The first round of those talks concluded on Monday, and technical discussions are expected to continue through the week.
Details of Rubio’s trip, such as the precise timing of his visits to the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain and the list of leaders and officials he is due to meet, were not immediately available.
In the statement, Pigott, the State Department spokesperson, said Rubio, who also serves as the White House national security advisor, would “discuss a range of regional priorities including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region.”
Source: Dunya News
