The Gulf reconciliation and outcomes of the recently held GCC summit have been welcomed by official and political American circles after three years of diplomatic efforts and US mediation to heal the rift among Gulf states.
In a statement on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the breakthrough made with the al-Ula Declaration at the GCC summit marks a positive step toward restoring Gulf and Arab unity.
“We have long stressed that a truly united Gulf will bring added prosperity through the free flow of goods and services and more security to its people,” he added.
This progress encourages states to achieve common goals and restore cooperation in military, economic, health, counter-corruption, and cultural initiatives, the statement noted.
“We hope the Gulf countries will continue to reconcile their differences. Restoring full diplomatic relations is imperative for all parties in the region to unite against common threats. We are stronger when we stand together.”
Pompeo further thanked Kuwait on behalf of the United States for its mediation efforts and support in resolving the Gulf dispute.
According to Saudi political analyst based in Washington, Faisal al-Shammeri, the coming period is important in showing goodwill among the reconciled parties.
He stressed that the change in some of the major events in the region requires unity among GCC states.
Shammeri told Asharq Al-Awsat that GCC and Egypt overcoming the dispute and leaders sitting at the round table indicate their awareness and strong desire to heal the rift and highlight the dangers that threaten the region.
For her part, senior analyst for Gulf states at the International Crisis Group Elham Fakhro told the Wall Street Journal that the thaw in the Gulf dispute means that the balance of power within the GCC will be distributed more fairly.
Qatar will benefit from the reconciliation to cooperate with regional countries against foreign threats, topped by the Iranian’s, especially through its militias that control the decision-making process in several regional countries, such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.
