US Defense Chief Urges GCC to Focus on ISIS, Regional Security

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called on Gulf Cooperation Council nations to engage more in the fight against the Islamic State.

Speaking Wednesday at the GCC Defense Ministerial in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Palace, Carter said the United States and GCC nations were “building on that strong partnership” that has lasted for decades.

A senior defense official said the two major focuses of Carter’s visit are countering Iran’s destabilizing activities and defeating the Islamic State.

Carter is urging GCC nations to be more engaged in helping the Iraqi government fight Islamic State and to rebuild areas where the militants have been pushed out.

The GCC nations have, so far, been hesitant to help Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi because “with all the Gulf states, there’s always a concern about the politics and about Iranian influence there,” according to a senior defense official.

“Our point to them has been, if you are concerned about outside influence in Iraq, the best way to counter that is to get in and engage yourself,” the official added.

Leading by example

On Monday, the United States announced it was sending 217 additional troops, Apache attack helicopters and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Iraq, along with $415 million in aid for the Kurdish peshmerga, whose government has struggled to pay its fighters due to a harsh drop in oil prices.

“We are leading by example ahead of this summit with the announcement we made,” a senior defense official said.

Carter said Monday during his visit to Baghdad that the additional troops, equipment and aid were to “enable” local forces in their fight to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and the hub for Islamic State forces in the state.

“The Kurds are the single best example we have out there of a force on the ground that is holding the line. They are taking back territory from ISIL,” said the defense official, using an acronym for the Islamic State.
 [Carla Babb - voanews.com]
20/4/16
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