US envoy meets with Saudi crown prince: reshaping regional maps

Steps are being taken in the Middle East to determine the new status quo following the defeat of Daesh. Saudi Arabia’s latest political and economic push, based in Iraq, stands out as a plan to alter the status quo. The visit of Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter Daesh, Brett McGurk, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is proof that regional dynamics are being sped up.

As part of his visit, McGurk held meetings on national security with individuals and groups of Saudi Arabia's top officials. McGurk also held talks with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia and the Director of the Intelligence Service.

McGurk's intense diplomacy traffic in Jeddah is considered to be part of an effort to reshape the maps of the region. McGurk met with Mohammed bin Salman, who was the second Crown Prince a year ago, in Jeddah. After McGurk's visit to Jeddah, he also visited the Iraqi border with Saudi ministers.

McGurk played a pivotal role in enabling the PKK/PYD terrorist organization to gain ground in Syria. His visit to Saudi Arabia has been evaluated as an effort to include Saudi Arabia in Iraq and Syria in U.S. plans.

The breadth and depth of McGurk's contacts and meetings in Jeddah also indicate to the validity of these claims. McGurk was the first person in Jeddah to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who ruled the country. Salman also holds the position of the Defense Minister.

It was stated that the two sides discussed the developments in the region, mainly the joint struggle against Daesh between the U.S., the UK and Saudi Arabia. No further details of the talks were provided.

Following the meeting between McGurk and Salman, a meeting which included Saudi Arabia's Washington Ambassador, Prince Khalid bin Selman, Chief of National Security Major General Abdulaziz al-Huvairini, Intelligence Service President Khalid al-Khufeydin, Minister for the Gulf Affairs, Thamer bin Sabhan and Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada Sadr was held.

It is evident that plans to reshape the region that include the Qatar crisis, Iran, Iraq and Syria were discussed by the positions of the participants.

Brett McGurk and Mohammed bin Salman met in Jeddah precisely one year ago to discuss the fight against Daesh. At that time Mohammed bin Salman was still the second Crown Prince and Defense Minister.

Holding the meetings annually has raised questions about whether the two nations are plotting regional shifts in consultation with each other.

Following last year's negotiations, the U.S. changed its policy in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq and increased support for the PKK terrorist organization in Syria.

Thamer bin Sabhan, the minister in charge of the Gulf Affairs of Saudi Arabia, visited the Iraqi border once it was opened after 27 years of remaining closed. Sabhan was accompanied by McGurk on his visit to the Arar border gate.

The visit sparked comments that said: “U.S. support is behind Riyadh’s opening to Baghdad.”

McGurk’s posts on his social media accounts showed that he was supportive of the development of the Saudi-Iraqi rapport.