They discussed military cooperation and the latest developments in the Middle East, including what were described as Iran’s destabilizing activities and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, said GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani.
The GCC countries and the U.S. have agreed to carry out joint patrols to stop any Iranian arms shipments reaching Yemen, al-Zayani told a press conference.
On his part, Carter said the U.S. and GCC nations were “building on the strong partnership” that has lasted for decades.
The U.S. defense chief urged the GCC members to be more engaged in helping the Iraqi government fight IS and to rebuild areas where the militants have been pushed out.
The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting came ahead of a summit, scheduled for Thursday, between U.S. President Barack Obama and the GCC leaders in the Saudi capital.
The White House said the U.S.-GCC summit will be an opportunity for leaders to discuss issues such as the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group, regional conflicts, and sectarian tensions. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
