Trump's Gulf outreach sidelines Israel's influence in the Middle East
Benjamin Netanyahu appeared distinctly isolated during Donald Trump's tour of the Gulf from May 13 to 16. When the Republican returned to the White House, the Israeli prime minister had pictured himself leading a regional transformation – a new Middle East rid of the threat of Iran and its proxies – through force, continuing the war he has waged in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Instead, he had to acknowledge the growing rift with the American president, who now saw himself as a "peacemaker" and "unifier" in the region, and who had made a deal with Iran the linchpin of his vision for regional peace.
During his visit to Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi, Trump displayed unity with the Gulf monarchs, who themselves were betting on a détente with Iran and economic development to bring peace and stability to the Middle East. Elevated to privileged partners by the Republican president, the Gulf's Sunni leaders – along with Turkey – were entrusted with a leading role in the new regional architecture. In contrast, Israel, stuck in its extremist position, lost influence on regional issues, except for the Palestinian issue, where the Trump administration still gave it free rein.
"The triumphant speeches from Netanyahu's government after Trump announced a plan to relocate Gazans out of the enclave, in February, have given way to a sense of panic on several issues where Saudi Arabia's influence is growing," explained Laure Foucher, Middle East expert at the Foundation for Strategic Research. In recent weeks, Netanyahu has been blindsided by Trump's decisions, which, done without consulting him and against his advice, have included launching nuclear talks with Iran, negotiating directly with Hamas for the release of Israeli-American hostages, securing a ceasefire with the Yemeni Houthis and lifting US sanctions on Syria.
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