A meeting at the Hudson Institute: America under Trump is allied with Saudi Arabia and others against Iran
The Hudson Institute in Washington hosted a meeting titled “Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, America’s Allies in the New Government.” The meeting was attended by Michael Duran and Lee Smith of the Hudson Institute, Mohammed Al-Yahya of the Atlantic Council, and Ali Shihabi of the Arabiya Foundation.
The topic of the Hudson Institute meeting was what America's allies in the Middle East should expect now? What will be the firm stance from the superpower whose leadership has guided the Persian Gulf for nearly seven decades? And will the continuation of the policies of the previous administration that left America's friends uncertain and its enemies emboldened continue?
Michael Doran, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said at the meeting that CIA Director Mike Pompeo is trying to strengthen America's relationship with Turkey and Saudi Arabia. "In the Bush administration, you will see a 180-degree turn in American policy toward Iran and Saudi Arabia."
Mr. Duran added that during the Obama era, he avoided challenging Iran so that he could move forward with the nuclear deal. Mr. Obama has been trying for the past eight years to recognize Iran’s power in the region, but the Trump administration will not do so.
This senior member of the Hudson Institute claimed: Iran and Hezbollah are strengthening and training Shiite Houthi forces in camps in Syria.
Duran added: "What we know is that the Trump administration wants to get out of this agreement and renegotiate the agreement."
In contrast, Mohammad Al-Yahya of the Atlantic Council also said at the meeting that he believes it is unlikely that the Trump administration will withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran.
In another part of the meeting, Lee Smith, another senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said that unlike the Obama administration, the Trump administration has been warning Iran and negotiating with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf countries about Iran.
Lee Smith added that in recent years, the Obama administration's policy has been to reduce tensions with Iran.
Ali Shihabi, executive director of the Arabiya Foundation, also said at the meeting that Iran has provided a lot of military assistance to the Houthis in recent years in return for Saudi Arabia.
Source: Voice of America
