The Trump administration is postponing until September a summit with Persian Gulf Arab leaders that had been planned for May, amid the ongoing dispute between Qatar and other U.S. allies in the region, according to five U.S. officials.
The decision to delay the summit with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council reflects a crowded diplomatic calendar and the fact that U.S. President Donald Trump remains without a secretary of state until the Senate confirms outgoing CIA Director Mike Pompeo for the post, two of the officials said.
However, other sources told Reuters the delay also stems from the little progress Washington has made so far in ending the bitter standoff between Qatar and other Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The dispute pits key U.S. allies against each other and has complicated efforts to maintain a united front against Iran. However, so far it has not affected the U.S. airbase in Qatar that supports attacks on Islamic extremists and surveillance of Iran, actions both the Saudis and the Emiratis support.
"This [delaying the meeting] was entirely our decision. We have too many irons in the fire in May," one U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said Trump may be meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in May, and that Pompeo has yet to be confirmed to replace the recently dismissed Rex Tillerson.
A spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council said the delay was not tied to the tensions over Qatar, adding, "President Trump is committed to resolving the Gulf dispute this month."
Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on March 20. He is due to meet with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani next week, followed by a meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
Trump spoke with al-Thani by phone on Tuesday and discussed the threat posed by Iran, the White House said in a statement.
"The leaders discussed Iran's increasingly reckless behavior in the region and the threat it poses to regional stability," the White House said.
The White House said Trump spoke on Monday with King Salman of Saudi Arabia about the split in the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as other regional issues, including Syria and Yemen. Trump also stressed the importance of achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians and discussed efforts to defeat the Islamic State group.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut off travel and trade ties with Qatar last June, accusing it of backing their archrival, Iran, and supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the charges and says the boycott is an attempt to impinge on its sovereignty and rein in its support for reform.
A senior U.S. official said the summit was discussed during the Saudi prince's Washington visit, and there was agreement that it would be better to delay the meeting until after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in mid-June.
"We'll see what transpires between now and then, but based on the discussions to date, it is hard to be optimistic about a rapprochement [between Qatar and its neighbors]," the official said.
However, two officials involved in the discussions said there have been signs of flexibility recently, including from Saudi Arabia.
"I think it makes sense [to delay the summit], as there seems to be movement on the beginning of a dialogue and more time to let it develop would be helpful," one said.
