LONDON: The US is likely to pull its forces from the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar should Doha not change its ways, American defense experts told a London conference Thursday.
The base is home to more than 10,000 US service members, but has entered the spotlight amid the diplomatic row between Qatar and some of its neighbors over Doha鈥檚 alleged support for terror groups.
Gen. Chuck Wald, former deputy commander of the US European Command, said Qatar鈥檚 alleged behavior meant a 鈥渢ipping point鈥� was approaching.
鈥淚t would be hugely detrimental for Qatar to continue down the path that they鈥檙e going right now,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 think the United States at some point is going to have enough of it and say, 鈥榳e鈥檙e leaving鈥�.鈥�
Wald said that the US could 鈥渧ery easily鈥� move from Al-Udeid air base to 萝莉视频, the UAE or Jordan.
鈥淢ilitarily it鈥檚 doable 鈥� The US military can move around very easily, in a big way,鈥� he said.
Dov Zakheim, a former US Department of Defense official under the administration of George W. Bush 鈥� who said he helped negotiate the expansion of Al-Udeid 鈥� said Qatar presents 鈥渁 huge dilemma鈥� to the US.
鈥淨atar for a long long time has tried to punch very much above its weight: This idea that they鈥檒l talk to everybody and anybody,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he trouble with trying to do that, is that when you鈥檙e dealing with Iran you鈥檙e playing with fire.鈥�
Zakheim said that Qatar鈥檚 alleged support for Iran, which some claim undermines regional stability, could prompt the US to leave the base.
鈥淭here is nothing that guarantees that we will permanently stay in Al-Udeid,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f Qatar continues to operate at cross purposes with its neighbors and with us, then at some point 鈥� we might find somewhere else.鈥�
The experts were addressing the 鈥淨atar, Global Security & Stability Conference鈥� held in London on Thursday. The event aimed to give voice to Qatari opposition members amid the diplomatic dispute that Doha is embroiled in.
Opposition member Khalid Al-Hail, spokesman for the Qatar National Democratic Party and organizer of the conference, was critical of Doha鈥檚 motives regarding the Al-Udeid air base.
鈥淚 think that the current Qatari regime uses the American base as the cover to fund terrorism and extremist acts,鈥� he said.