US discusses plan to create ‘Arab NATO’ with Qatar

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Qatari Defense Minister Khalid al-Attiyah in Washington over a US plan to create a NATO-like Arab military alliance as Washington pushes for an end to a diplomatic rift between Doha an a Saudi-led quartet in favor of an alliance against Iran.

US State Department said in a press release on Wednesday that Pompeo and al-Attiyah “discussed working toward a Middle East Strategic Alliance, anchored by a united [P]GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), to advance prosperity, security, and stability in the region.”

Prior to US President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia last year, reports said he was expected to lay out his vision for what White House officials called an “Arab NATO,” comprised of six Persian Gulf Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan.

The goal of creating such an alliance is said to be countering the growing influence of Iran in the Middle East.

Informed sources said in July that Washington would play an organizing and supporting role while staying outside the anti-Iran alliance.

Additionally, sources from some of the Arab countries involved in the planned alliance confirmed, back then, renewed efforts to activate the initiative.

However, a diplomatic standoff between Qatar and a Saudi-led quartet of countries seems to have already hampered the formation of the so-called “Arab NATO.”

During their meeting in Washington, Pompeo and Attiyah “reaffirmed their commitment to the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Qatar, as well as their mutual interest in promoting security and stability in the region.”

SS