US ‘open to giving GCC major non-NATO status’

WASHINGTON — The White House said on Thursday that it was open to the idea of granting its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners major non-NATO ally status.

But talks at the Camp David summit have been focused more on public assurances about help the US can provide with security, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said.

Obama has invited six Gulf leaders to his Camp David presidential retreat Thursday, for a fence-mending summit bedeviled by disagreements, royal no-shows and raging crises in the Middle East.

Obama and the GCC leaders were also to discuss countering Daesh terror group, including the additional counterterrorism capabilities needed.

White House said the issue of Syria was on the agenda.