Reuters: Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has skipped a Gulf Arab summit with U.S. President Barack Obama, but is expected to join Britain's Queen Elizabeth at a horse show near London, a show representative said.

Like Saudi Arabia's King Salman, King Hamad has decided to send his crown prince to the United States in his stead, in a perceived snub over Obama's drive to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, the arch-rival of America's traditional Gulf Arab allies.

The no-shows of the two kings have reduced the prestige of the May 13-14 gathering and may undercut its ability to resolve U.S.-Gulf rifts over how to deal with Iran and wars in the region.

A media representative at the Royal Windsor Horse Show told Reuters that King Hamad was expected at the high society event which begins on Wednesday at Windsor Castle outside London and will be attended by the British royal family.

The Arabic Issue: