Carter told reporters during a visit to Fort Drum in New York that U.S. military leaders who have met with him abroad thought that regional members of the coalition fighting ISIS should be encouraged to do more if they were able.
“So I think if they are willing to do more, in this case with respect to Yemen, then that is a good thing because ultimately it is their region. The willingness of the parties there to step up and do more for stability in the Middle East is a good thing,” Carter said.
Asked if the U.S. military would cooperate with the new proposed Arab Force, the U.S. Defense Secretary said it would, adding “there are partners and security allies of ours, and when they act in a way that we regard as in our interests as well as theirs we will continue to partner with them as we have been in other matters”.
Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Defense and Chief of the Royal Court and Special Advisor to the King, Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz received member of the US Senate's Armed Services Committee Jim Inhofe and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh late Monday.
During the meeting the two sides reviewed cooperation between the Kingdom and the US in view of the ongoing Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthi group in Yemen, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The operation came in response to a call by the Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to liberate his country from extremist group and restore legitimacy and stability.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Aysh and Chief of the General Staff Lt.-General Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Banyan, as well as other senior officials from the two sides.