NEW YORK — US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet next Tuesday with leaders and foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to discuss the regional strategy toward Iran once the current conflict ends.
According to Axios, the meeting will be held on the
sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and will include
representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain,
Kuwait, and Oman.
The talks will focus on the steps the United States and its
Arab allies should take in the post-war scenario with Iran. Topics include
regional security and how to contain Iranian influence.
The meeting comes as the Trump administration works on a
broader strategy for the Middle East. According to recent reports, the plan
includes greater coordination among US regional allies, as well as initiatives
to expand the Abraham Accords and advance toward the eventual normalization of
relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The meeting also comes at a time of heightened tension in
the Gulf. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have suffered the consequences
of the conflict and face risks to their energy infrastructure, trade routes,
and regional security.
Trump recently indicated that he believes the war with Iran
may be nearing its end, while diplomatic efforts continue on various fronts.
Tuesday's meeting could become one of the first multilateral
gatherings aimed at defining the political and security landscape of the Middle
East in the post-conflict era.