The United States is withdrawing its air force from Saudi Arabia by mutual agreement now the threat from Iraq has gone, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today.
The key US air operations centre for the Gulf shifted to neighbouring Qatar, which has stormy ties with Saudi Arabia and has courted the US security umbrella to protect multi-billion dollar investments in a burgeoning gas industry.
"By mutual agreement the aircraft that have been involved will be able to leave," Mr Rumsfeld told a press conference with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Sultan.
Both men put a positive spin on the evacuation, stressing there were no differences despite repeated US reports of strained ties in the aftermath of the September 11th suicide hijackings, in which 15 Saudis led by Osama bin Laden played a major role.
"They will leave with us grateful for the co-operation and support Saudi Arabia has provided," Mr Rumsfeld said.
"Over time we anticipate our forces in the region will be reduced. Needless to say that will be done in a manner I hope that will reflect the close co-operation and friendship between our countries."
"We discussed the change that did take place in the region ... That it is a safer region after ... the successful liberation of Iraq. We will re-arrange our forces in this part of the world," Mr Rumsfeld added.
Prince Sultan said that following the end of aerial monitoring of Iraq under Operation Southern Watch, "there's no need for them to be here.
"This does not mean we have requested them to move, and it does not mean our friendship has been affected.
"The co-operation between our two countries was going on even before Desert Storm and it will continue even after the end of the war in Iraq."
He said Saudi Arabia, which provided a launchpad for coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm to oust Iraq from Kuwait in 1991, was looking to the United States now for military training and technology.
Mr Rumsfeld confirmed what senior US officials announced earlier in the day that the US air force was leaving the desert kingdom where the number of US military personnel doubled to 10,000 for the Iraq conflict.
AFP