Without energy infrastructure, they’re unprofitable.” Coates Ulrichsen described the events as “undoing years of work to de-risk the region and placing in jeopardy the unique selling point and business models that have underpinned the Gulf states’ global rise.”US policy compounded the pressure. A Saudi official told reporters that “the United States abandoned the Gulf states and redirected its air defence to protect Israel. They left all the Gulf states that host American military bases at the mercy of Iranian strikes.” Trump administration officials urged partners to abandon neutrality, including potential tanker escorts, while signaling an open-ended campaign. Faisal Al-Mudahka, editor-in-chief of Gulf Times, framed the broader sentiment: “This is Israel and the US’s war, and it has nothing to do with us. Without greater collective coordination, the monarchies risk remaining collateral in a confrontation not of their choosing, where Iranian desperation meets US determination.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 04, 2026 16:08 UTC