By Idrees Al

MANAMA, (Reuters) – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attempted to reassure Middle East allies on Saturday that President Joe Biden’s administration is committed to the region despite Washington turning increasingly towards China.

Austin’s speech was not supported by announcements about new weapons sales or further deployments in the Middle East. It is therefore unclear what impact it would have on allies.

The Gulf Arab countries, which are heavily dependent on U.S. military support, expressed concern about Biden’s attention to the region after the U.S. withdraw from Afghanistan. They are closely watching efforts to revive a global-powers nuclear pact with Iran.

Austin made a speech to Bahrain on a Gulf visit and expressed concern that the United States had only focused its attention on China’s challenges.

Austin declared, “Let’s be very clear. America is determined to secure the Middle East.”

He said that America was determined to confront Iran even though Washington is trying to revive 2015’s nuclear agreement.

We remain determined to reach a diplomatic solution on the nuclear question. But if Iran isn’t willing to engage seriously, then we will look at all the options necessary to keep the United States secure,” Austin said.

Pentagon chief stated that the United States would come to indirect negotiations for reviving the agreement on Nov. 29 in good will.

“But Iran’s actions in recent months have not been encouraging – especially because of the expansion of their nuclear programme,” he added.

The Gulf Arab countries have requested to participate in negotiations and to agree to any agreement to deal with Iran’s missile program and other destabilizing behavior in the region.

“IMPENDING AMERICAN ABANDONMENT?”

Although many U.S. administrations tried to focus the United States’ attention on the Middle East, they have failed to do so in the Pacific. In August, Biden oversaw the end of the longest U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

“There is dismay at the fact that the United States has left the country. Jon Alterman from the Washington CSIS think-tank stated that messaging doesn’t address this sense of American abandonment.

An American defense official spoke on condition of anonymity to say that Austin is not likely to make new commitments in the area during his trip.

Biden’s approach has led to the defeat of Saudi Arabia, one the United States closest allies in this region.

The Biden White House has been pressuring Saudi Arabia to improve its record on human rights, including the release of political prisoners, such as women’s rights advocates, from jail.

Austin was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on September 12, but the trip was cancelled at the last minute. This trip will see him not visiting Riyadh.