US President Barack Obama has pledged to stand by his Gulf allies with military force if necessary, amid heightened tensions with Iran.
He reassured Arab leaders, after a two-day summit, that the US was committed to protecting them in a time of “extraordinary changes”.
Speaking at Camp David near Washington, Mr Obama said a nuclear deal with Iran was not a threat to Gulf nations.
A joint statement pledged new co-operation in many areas.
These included counterterrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity and ballistic missile defence.
The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
“I was very explicit … that the United States will stand by our GCC partners against external attack,” Mr Obama pledged at the end of the talks.
