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Kerry’s outreach

John Kerry is on a fence mending mission to the region.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, the articulate US secretary of state seems to have succeeded in allaying recent concerns that Washington’s hip-hop diplomacy has created in many a capitals in the region. The prime among them was the somersault that the United States took from its stated position that use of force would be considered if Damascus crossed the redline by using chemical weapons. The US retreat was considered by Riyadh as an appeasement of President Bashar Al Assad’s regime, which gassed its own people on August 21. Similarly, the ensuing thaw between Washington and Tehran after the presidents of both countries spoke on the phone is also a matter of serious concern for America’s strategic allies in the region. The Vietnam veteran seems to have apprised his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud Al Faisal, of the US position, facilitating for both of them to inform the media that relations between the two nations are “strategic and enduring” and that there are no differences between them over Syria. Prince Saud went on to describe the bilateral relationship as one based on “sincerity, candour and frankness” in response to Kerry’s narration of Saudi Arabia being a “very, very important ally”.

The reiteration of trust has come at a time when ground realities in the region are in a flux. The nuclear talks that Washington is set to resume with Tehran this week could be a milestone if it results in persuading the Islamic republic to scale down its ambitious uranium enrichment programme, and open up the country for trade. Neutralising Iran will serve as a security cushion for the Arab states. Similarly, a rejuvenated Saudi diplomacy can play a greater role in prevailing over the Syrian opposition for entering into meaningful talks at Geneva later this month. Kerry has just laid the ground for a broad-based understanding of divisive issues.