Washington--"What they fear, above all, is that, for one reason or another, American policy is beginning to tilt towards Tehran and away from traditional US allies in the region," said Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute.
Despite close ties stretching back decades, ultra-conservative Gulf monarchies and a country which brought the world "Baywatch" have never been easy allies.
Interests have often trumped ideology.
In 1980, in the wake of a crippling oil shock precipitated by Iran's Islamic Revolution, President Carter pledged to come to the defense of vital oil-producing Gulf states.
That policy was made manifest a decade later when president George Bush sent troops to Kuwait when it was invaded by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
Today the US fifth fleet is based in Bahrain and a US military command center with substantial troops is stationed in Qatar.
But the Gulf states are now asking for the "Carter Doctrine" to be more than a "gentlemen's agreement."
With one eye on the $100 billion-plus windfall that Iran could receive when sanctions end and accounts are unfrozen, they would like to see a binding mutual defense treaty like that agreed between NATO members.
Such a pact would be difficult to pass through a pro-Israeli Congress, but in any case it is a non-starter for the White House, which sees asymmetric threats and internal unease at closed political systems as a greater security priority.
With reduced attendance and hoped-for deals on security and the sale of advanced US weapons like the F-35 stealth fighter in doubt, Obama will have to scramble to salvage the summit.
Officials will likely push for progress on ballistic missile defense, joint military exercises and cyber and maritime security initiatives.
AFP
