US, Britain and others welcome announcement of 34-member coalition to fight terrorism, but some observers question Saudi motives
Saudi Arabia’s plan for a Muslim alliance against terrorism – announced at a press conference in Riyadh early on Tuesday – is designed to display determination to fight the jihadis of Islamic State and to help the west do so. But key details about how it will work and whether it will even involve military forces on any front lines remain unclear.
Announcing the creation of the 34-member group, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the conservative kingdom’s defence minister, was apparently responding to a call by Barack Obama for the Islamic world to do more in the war against Isis.
The Saudis, the UAE and Jordan have all taken part in US-led airstrikes in Syria, but have not deployed ground troops. The Saudis are preoccupied by the war in Yemen. And, in the current sectarian mood across the Middle East, every Sunni country has citizens who do not actively support Isis or al-Qaida but admire their perceived “fightback” against Shia groups and Iran, especially in Syria.
The surprise announcement appeared to be aimed for primetime TV in the US, where Barack Obama has presided over a sharp decline in relations with Riyadh amid mounting western criticism of Saudi policy on human rights, Yemen, Wahhabi intolerance and allegations of support for Isis.
It was welcomed by the US, Britain and other countries and extensively reported by Saudi-owned media. But western diplomats said there had been no prior consultation about the move and that little information was available.
Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, said the coalition would share intelligence and deploy troops if necessary. “Nothing is off the table,” he told reporters in Paris. “A number of countries are in desperate need of assistance.” Military help would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Read more:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/15/saudi-arabia-anti-terrorism-alliance-political-message-sketchy-details