US withdrawing aeroplanes and missile systems from Gulf, US newspaper

Washington – The United States is planning to withdraw the fighter jets and advanced missile systems deployed in the Gulf countries. A US newspaper claimed that this is being done in line with the changing military policies of the United States. The newspaper said that these fighter jets and advanced missile systems, being withdrawn from the Gulf countries, will be deployed against China because of the increasing Chinese challenge.

The US daily, The Wall Street Journal, reported, ‘The fighter jets and advanced missile systems deployed in the Gulf countries Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq, will be moved to some other locations. These include eight patriot air defence systems and one Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAD) system. The soldiers deployed with the air defence systems will also be recalled. Moreover, the number of fighter jets deployed in these countries also will be reduced.’ The newspaper claimed that the report is based on the information received from officials in the Biden administration.

US Secretary of State, Lloyd Austin, held talks with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman at the beginning of this month. As per the newspaper, this issue was discussed at that time. The officials from the Biden administration told the newspaper that this is a limited withdrawal, and the systems deployed in the Gulf countries in the last two years are being withdrawn.

In 2019, two major oil projects in Saudi Arabia came under attacks, using drones of Iranian make. After that, the tension had increased in the Gulf, and the question of security of the oil projects in Saudi Arabia came on the anvil. Former US President Donald Trump deployed additional air defence systems in Saudi Arabia, on priority, to secure the oil projects. But the number of drone and rocket attacks on the US military bases in Iraq increased following the killing of Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani. After that, the United States deployed air defence systems in Kuwait and Iraq. As per the officials from the Biden administration, these are the systems that are being withdrawn.

The US newspaper said that the fighter jets, missile defence systems and thousands of soldiers would continue to remain deployed in the Gulf countries, and there will be no changes in these deployments. The newspaper said that the Biden administration believes that if the negotiations with Iran for the nuclear deal are successful, the Iranian threat will diminish, and this huge deployment will not be necessary for the Gulf countries.

At the same time, the officials from the Biden administration clarified that the soldiers and equipment withdrawn from the Gulf would be deployed against China. The concerned officials informed that this new deployment is being made because of the rising Chinese threat. Pentagon has not reacted to the report carried by the newspaper.

But the US media is claiming that the Biden administration is ignoring the warning issued by US CENTCOM Chief General Kenneth McKenzie nearly a month ago. General McKenzie had warned, ‘If the United States reduces or withdraws the military deployment in the Gulf countries, following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, China and Russia will benefit from it. China is waiting to increase its influence in the Gulf countries and challenge the United States.’

The Biden administration is taking this important decision regarding the Gulf sector, ignoring the warning issued by the CENTCOM Chief. Iran would benefit the most if the United States withdrew its missile defence systems and fighter jets. Indications are that the Biden administration is taking this decision to teach a lesson to a country like Saudi Arabia. This could also be an effort of the Biden administration to deliver a message to Israel, which bitterly opposes the nuclear deal between the United States and Iran.