According to the Washington Post, citing officials from several Arab and Western countries, on the 15th local time, the frustration among America’s Gulf allies towards the United States is rising. They are concerned that U.S. President Trump lacks the necessary diplomatic skills to ensure peace with Iran.
Recently, Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran, but then retracted those threats on the grounds of progress in negotiations. During this period, Iran carried out attacks against US military bases in several Middle Eastern countries.
Reports state that, under these circumstances, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain are ‘consistently annoyed by the actions of the US government’. Some countries have begun discussing whether it is still necessary to continue allowing the US to deploy large military facilities on their territories.
A Gulf official said, “Trump started this war, and we are paying the price for it.” He also stated, “Anger towards the United States in this region has reached its highest level since the conflict began.”
Reports indicate that Gulf countries are expected to continue relying on the United States as a close security partner and major arms supplier. However, this dissatisfaction is leading some countries to consider new arrangements.
Analysts point out that it is unlikely for the regional landscape to change significantly in the short term, but some Gulf countries have begun considering alternative options.
A European high-level official stated that the Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signing the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is "a signal sent to the United States" as they are attempting to achieve "multicultural security and defense partnerships". "In their view, relying solely on the United States is not enough."
