According to CNN and Reuters, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Bahrain since June 23 to reassure Gulf nations about their security.
In Kuwait, Rubio stated, "The United States will not do anything to undermine the security of our Gulf partners," emphasizing that Washington's security commitments remain intact.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain have relied on their strategic alliance with the U.S. as a cornerstone of their national security for decades.
However, President Trump has approached alliances more as transactional relationships focused on costs rather than as security partnerships. Gulf nations are still mindful of the U.S. refraining from direct retaliation against Iran after it was blamed for the attack on Saudi oil facilities in 2019.
Since the start of Trump's second term, Gulf countries have pledged significant investments and economic cooperation to maintain their relationship with the U.S. Last May, during a visit to the Persian Gulf, Trump assured in Doha, "We will protect this country."
Yet, with the U.S. and Israel initiating military actions against Iran this year and Iran's retaliatory strikes spreading across the Gulf, the effectiveness of these promises is being tested once again.
Experts believe the recent ceasefire agreement has brought both relief and anxiety to Gulf nations. Hasan Alhassan, a senior researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), told CNN, "From the perspective of Arab Gulf states, the Iran war represents a catastrophic turning point for regional security order." He noted that a decline in U.S. influence and increased funding to Iran could embolden Tehran.
Despite these concerns, Gulf nations are not publicly opposing the agreement. The potential for prolonged conflict to directly impact oil facilities, ports, and financial and tourism hubs likely influences their decision to accept an imperfect agreement over escalation.
The lack of suitable alternative security partners also limits Gulf nations' responses. However, some countries are exploring diversifying their arms procurement away from the U.S. to nations like Turkey. There is also a growing sentiment in the region to consider long-term coexistence strategies, such as non-aggression pacts with Iran.
The Washington Post reported that there is a visible sense of disappointment with President Trump within the UAE. Nevertheless, the UAE and other Gulf governments are officially emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties with the U.S. While the need for America's security umbrella remains, the trust in it is not what it once was, prompting a reassessment of Gulf nations' diplomatic and security strategies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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