Defense bill calls for military pacts with Gulf states
House Republicans unveiled a defense bill that calls for military agreements with Gulf Cooperation Council nations to deter Iran, although some are nervous that pressing for status of forces arrangements could backfire.
The House Armed Services Committee unveiled an annual defense bill this week that calls on the Obama administration to deter Iran by signing defense pacts with member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Section 1239 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act expresses the sense of Congress relating to the US "presence and cooperation in the Arabian Gulf region to deter Iran."
It recommends that the United States "maintain a robust forward presence and posture" in the region and "seek ways to support the security posture of GCC countries in the Arabian Gulf region to deter Iran."
"The United States does not have status of forces agreements and defense agreements with key GCC allies, which would support the defense of the Arabian Gulf region and would deter Iran," reads the bill, which will be marked up during a marathon session on Wednesday.
