Trump Seeks to Revive 'Arab NATO' to Confront Iran

[DonViejo]

Source: U.S. News & World Report



July 27, 2018, at 4:18 p.m.

BY YARA BAYOUMY, Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is quietly pushing ahead with a bid to create a new security and political alliance with six Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter Iran's expansion in the region, according to U.S. and Arab officials.

The White House wants to see deeper cooperation between the countries on missile defense, military training, counter-terrorism and other issues such as strengthening regional economic and diplomatic ties, four sources said.

The plan to forge what officials in the White House and Middle East have called an "Arab NATO" of Sunni Muslim allies will likely raise tensions between the United States and Shi'ite Iran, two countries increasingly at odds since President Donald Trump took office.

The administration's hope is that the effort, tentatively known as the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA), might be discussed at a summit provisionally scheduled for Washington on Oct. 12-13, several sources said.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-07-27/trump-seeks-to-revive-arab-nato-to-confront-iran

[oberliner]

1. Sunni vs. Shia?

[Mosby]

3. seems like it

I can't get the article to load on my phone, is he talking about the GCC countries plus egypt and jordan?

[oberliner]

4. Yep, those are the countries mentioned

I seem to recall something similar to this being discussed in 2015 or thereabouts.

[pecosbob]

2. Kind of late for that Comrade Gump

Every tin-pot dictator in the Gulf knows you for what you are, a money-launderer and snake-oil salesman, a liar and a cheat. Your 'deals' only amount to coercion and threats.

The American People appreciate all your support for the Wahhabi terrorist regimes that brought us 9/11.