Gulf allies angered by Trump’s handling of Iran conflict

Frustration is rising among US allies in the Persian Gulf over President Donald Trump's management of the war with Iran, according to three Gulf officials and a former US diplomat who spoke to The Washington Post. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are increasingly united in their discontent, with one Gulf official saying anger toward Washington is at its highest since US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February. “Trump started this war,” the official said, “and we are paying the price.” Some governments have begun discussing whether hosting large US military installations remains useful, though analysts say significant changes are unlikely in the short term.

The conflict has prompted Gulf states to consider diversifying security partnerships. A mutual defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan last week was described by a senior European official as “a signal to the US.” A White House official countered that Trump has “extraordinary relationships with all of our Gulf partners” and that Iran is “more isolated than ever before.” Firas Maksad of the Eurasia Group said Trump’s Iran policy is often described in the region as “erratic” and “unpredictable.” Saudi Arabia has faced particular pressure from Iran-backed Houthi attacks on its energy infrastructure and Red Sea shipping.

Gulf attitudes toward the war have shifted: Oman opposed it from the start, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain initially supported it. Emirati forces have carried out numerous strikes on targets in Iran, and Saudi forces have attacked Iranian-backed groups in Iraq. Bader Al-Saif of Kuwait University said Trump’s inconsistency alarmed Gulf governments, pointing to a US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding in June that failed to address Gulf concerns such as Iran’s ballistic missiles. Douglas Silliman, a former US ambassador to Kuwait and Iraq, said he had heard frustration with Washington from regional leaders.