Gulf nations seek security deal with US

New Saudi king refuses invitation to attend the Camp David summit for US-Iran nuclear talks

Leaders of the Gulf nations unnerved by Washington's nuclear talks with Iran and Teheran's meddling across the Middle East want US President Barack Obama to promise more than words and weapons at this week's summit at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland woods.

They want commitments that the United States has their backs at a time when the region is under siege from Islamic extremists: Syria unraveling, Iraq volatile and Yemen mired in chaos.