White House Cancels President Obama's Summit With Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders

Heads of States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Reuters)

U.S. Cancels Summit With Divided Group of Gulf Nations -- Wall Street Journal

Obama Plans to Meet With Saudi King in Riyadh Next Week

The White House canceled plans for summit this month between President Barack Obama and Persian Gulf monarchs in Riyadh because of splits between Washington's closest allies in the region.

WASHINGTON—The White House canceled plans for a summit this month between President Barack Obama and Persian Gulf monarchs in Riyadh because of splits between Washington’s closest allies in the region, according to diplomats briefed on the decision.

The strains that scuttled the meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait—underscored the mounting challenges Washington faces in trying to contain the Middle East’s spiraling political turmoil, these officials said.

Mr. Obama is still scheduled to meet face-to-face with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in Riyadh late next week at the end of a trip largely focused on Europe and the crisis in Ukraine.

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Update #1: US nixes Persian Gulf summit amid divisions among allies -- RT
Update #2: U.S. drops bid to arrange Obama summit with divided Gulf states -- Reuters

My Comment: The U.S. has had a close alliance with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies for decades. It is quite something to see this relationship now falling apart .... especially since unity is now needed to confront Iran, the near civil war situation in Iraq, and the civil war in Syria.