Rubio heads to Gulf as Iran deal talks continue
Washington, June 22 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23-25 for talks focused on regional security, the Iran memorandum of understanding, and maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department announced on Monday.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio’s visit will centre on a range of regional priorities at a time when the United States and its Gulf partners are engaged in efforts to preserve stability across the Middle East.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain from June 23-25,” Pigott said.
Rubio will hold discussions on “a range of regional priorities including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” the media release said.
The trip comes as Washington continues diplomatic engagement with regional partners following the recently announced memorandum of understanding with Iran, which has become a key focus of US diplomacy in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, is expected to feature prominently in the discussions. The State Department said the Secretary would discuss “efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz”.
The narrow waterway is a critical route for global energy supplies and international trade. Any disruption to maritime traffic in the area has the potential to affect economies across the world, including major energy-importing nations.
In Bahrain, Rubio will meet representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to the State Department.
“In Bahrain, the Secretary will also meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss shared priorities across the region,” Pigott said.
The GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, serves as a major forum for political, economic and security cooperation among Gulf states.
The United States has maintained deep strategic partnerships with GCC countries for decades, including defence cooperation, counterterrorism efforts and energy security coordination. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while the UAE and Kuwait remain important regional security partners of Washington.
–IANS
lkj/ksk/dan