&w=3840&q=100)
Shifting sands: Trump's Gulf diplomacy redraws alliances, leaves Israel isolated
Nothing captured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's isolation more starkly this week than the image of US President Donald Trump shaking hands with Syria's Islamist leader Ahmed al‑Sharaa a man Israel has branded 'an al‑Qaeda terrorist in a suit.' read more
US President Donald Trump's recent tour across Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates has seemingly solidified a new Sunni-led order in West Asia, leaving long-standing ally Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an increasingly isolated position.
The four-day diplomatic push, driven by substantial arms, business and technology agreements, signals a recalibration of Washington's regional priorities: a transactional, interest-driven diplomacy that prizes arms deals, economic partnerships and regional de-escalation over ideological loyalty that appears to be at odds with Netanyahu's agenda.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The most striking moment came in Riyadh, where Trump shook hands with Syria's new Islamist leader Ahmed al-Sharaa — a figure Israel has branded an 'al-Qaeda terrorist in a suit.'
Trump's positive remarks about Sharaa, following their meeting brokered by Saudi Arabia, highlighted a willingness to engage with entities previously considered beyond the pale by Israel. This move, coupled with the lucrative deals secured with the Sunni Gulf states, points towards a US strategy that prioritises a unified Sunni bloc as a counterweight to a diminished Iran, whose 'axis of resistance' has been significantly weakened by internal pressures and Israeli military actions against its proxies.
The new Sunni-centric order
Trump's whirlwind tour through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE wasn't merely a victory lap for the dealmaker-president. It marked the consolidation of a Sunni-led regional order, one that marginalises both Iran's diminished 'axis of resistance' and, increasingly, Israel's strategic priorities.
Various reports suggest that growing frustration in Washington over Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza conflict has played a significant role in this diplomatic realignment. Trump's tour, bypassing Israel, is perceived by many as a clear message to Netanyahu that the unconditional U.S. support he has historically relied upon can no longer be taken for granted.
'This administration is very frustrated with Netanyahu and that frustration is showing,' said David Schenker, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under Republican former President George W. Bush.
'They're very, very transactional, and Netanyahu isn't giving them anything right now.'
While sources emphasised that the US is not abandoning Israel, a vital ally with deep bipartisan support in Washington, the Trump administration appears intent on asserting its own interests in West Asia, Reuters reported.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
According to reports, Netanyahu's perceived inflexibility on key issues, including a ceasefire in Gaza and his opposition to US engagement with Iran over its nuclear program, has reportedly strained the relationship.
The divergence in strategic outlook became apparent earlier this year when Netanyahu's visit to Washington seeking support for military action against Iran was met with Trump's preference for diplomacy. This, followed by Trump's declaration of a ceasefire in Yemen with the Iran-backed Houthis and the direct engagement with Syria, signalled a clear departure from the traditionally aligned US-Israel stance on regional matters.
Riyadh's rising influence
Analysts say the new Middle East order is being shaped not in Tel Aviv but in Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi. These Sunni-led monarchies are eager for advanced US technology and security guarantees amid persistent threats from Iran and its regional proxies.
'In the past, Iran had the leading role,' said a senior regional official. 'Now Saudi Arabia has entered with other tools: the economy, money, investment.'
That ascendancy was most evident in Trump's unexpected decision to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria — a move made at Saudi Arabia's urging and over Israeli objections. It marks a sweeping pivot from years of US support for the opposition to Bashar al-Assad's regime and reflects Gulf-led priorities in stabilising Syria's post-Assad political order under al-Sharaa.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The Trump administration has also announced a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen, effectively ending a costly US military campaign in the Red Sea just days after a missile struck Israel's Ben Gurion Airport — a deal viewed as appeasement by Israeli hawks.
Netanyahu under fire at home
Back home, Netanyahu is facing intensifying criticism. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused his government of being 'paralysed' in the face of sweeping regional change.
'The Middle East is undergoing tectonic changes before our eyes,' Bennett posted on X. 'Our enemies are getting stronger, and Netanyahu and his gang are passive, as if they don't exist.'
Netanyahu, who is also on trial in Israel for corruption charges he denies, has made no public comments on Trump's tour. But Israeli media have been rife with speculation about deteriorating ties with Washington and fears of diplomatic isolation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
U.S. states would struggle to administer food stamp benefits under Republican tax bill
A Republican tax bill proposal could shift $22 billion in SNAP costs to states, potentially forcing them to cut eligibility or leave the program. State officials express concerns about absorbing these costs, which could impact millions of recipients. The bill also expands work requirements, potentially removing millions more from SNAP. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads States would struggle Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads U.S. states will not be able to fully administer food stamp benefits for millions of the nation's poor if a proposal in the Republican tax bill forcing them to shoulder billions of dollars in new costs is signed into law, according to state officials, local government associations and policy than 41 million people receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the nation's largest food aid program, which cost about $100 billion in 2024. The tax bill passed on May 22 by the U.S. House of Representatives and backed by President Donald Trump would shift some $22 billion in administrative and benefit costs to state and local governments, according to a Reuters of the move say it will promote accountability and reduce waste in the program. But states fear it will backfire."No state is going to be able to simply absorb that," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, told from North Carolina, Oregon and Michigan also said their states did not have the resources to easily take on the spending requirements in the proposal, which is now before the states could be forced to shrink SNAP eligibility or to leave the program altogether, according to letters sent in May to Congressional and agriculture committee leadership from state and county legislatures and health officials."Shifting the financial burden of SNAP onto states is fiscally unsustainable and risks harming the very individuals and families the program is designed to support," said one letter from the National Conference of State letters were sent by the National Association of Counties, National Association of County Human Services Administrators and the American Public Human Services Association. USDA spokesperson said that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins supports Trump's agenda and that the agency will continue to provide technical assistance to have long supported reduced spending on SNAP, arguing that the program creates a dependence on federal support and should be more narrowly targeted to the most could not reach a representative from the Republican Governors Association or from Texas, Florida or Georgia, the Republican-led states facing the highest SNAP costs The House bill would require states for the first time to pay for a portion of SNAP benefits beginning in 2028, with their payment share from 5% to 25% tied to the state's error rate, a USDA measure of how accurately states determine eligibility and benefit that would amount to more than $20 billion in spending, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The bill would also require states to immediately pay 75% of the cost of administering the SNAP program, up from their existing 50% obligation, adding another $2 billion to the sum, according to USDA states facing the most new spending would be California ($3.7 billion), New York ($2.1 billion), Florida ($1.7 billion) and Texas ($1.2 billion).The state spending requirements would push 1.3 million people off of SNAP in an average month, because some states would modify eligibility requirements or stop administering SNAP, according to a May 22 letter from the Congressional Budget Office to House and Senate agriculture committee does not have the ability to support $850 million in new SNAP spending and may need to restrict eligibility or reduce benefits if the House bill passes, said Elizabeth Hertel, director of the state Department of Health and Human would struggle to absorb more than $477 million and the state is planning for what they would do if forced to take on the spending, said Claire Seguin, director of the division of the Oregon Department of Human Services that administers Carolina is already budget constrained and "there isn't really a way to backfill" more than $650 million in new SNAP spending, said Department of Health and Human Services secretary Dev Sangvai, who did not provide details on what steps the state would take if the provision York also cannot absorb its projected costs, Barbara Guinn, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, told Senators during a June 4 forum on the SNAP most states must balance their budgets and cannot accrue debt to offset new spending like the federal government can, shifting SNAP spending to states risks drawing down resources from other public programs like Medicaid, said Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. The bill would also expand work requirements for some SNAP recipients and restrict states' ability to waive those requirements when unemployment ticks up, which together would push another 3.2 million people off of SNAP in an average month, according to the CBO.
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
US Secretary Rubio targets Harvard over potential sanctions breach at China conference; NYT reports
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for a Treasury Department investigation into Harvard University 's alleged sanctions violations linked to a health conference held in China. The request, which experts call highly unusual, comes amid the Trump administration 's wider campaign to increase scrutiny on the Ivy League school's global partnerships, as per a report by The New York Times. According to the NYT report, Rubio signed a recommendation last month urging the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to examine whether Harvard's collaboration with Chinese officials—some from a blacklisted entity—violated federal law. The case centers on a long-running program called the 'Training Course on Health Financing,' held jointly by Harvard, the World Bank, and China's National Health Insurance Administration. Since 2019, it has hosted officials from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (X.P.C.C.), a group sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for human rights violations against Uyghurs and other minorities in China. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo Archived versions of a Harvard webpage list the X.P.C.C. among participants, though the university later removed those mentions. A Chinese government site showed the Corps still attended as recently as 2023. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Rubio's action marks a rare case of a cabinet secretary targeting a domestic institution for sanctions enforcement. John Smith, a former OFAC director, told The Times, 'I wouldn't say it's wrong or improper-I would just say it's unusual and not the usual course of business.' Live Events You Might Also Like: US resumes visa processing for Harvard students after court blocks Trump's policy ban The sanctions push is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to pressure Harvard. The university has already lost nearly $3.7 billion in federal research grants since filing a lawsuit in April that accused the government of politically motivated interference. Trump allies have shifted focus from antisemitism concerns on campus to alleged foreign ties. On May 15, Senator Tom Cotton cited a report from Strategy Risks—funded by conservative think tank Manhattan Institute—calling for an investigation. Days later, the Department of Homeland Security stated Harvard had 'hosted and trained' members of the X.P.C.C. The Treasury and State Departments declined to comment on the probe. Harvard is reportedly conducting an internal review, but details remain undisclosed. A Harvard spokesperson declined to comment. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the administration's actions. At a recent event, she said, 'We're pleased to see that,' referring to the replacement of faculty at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies. You Might Also Like: Now, lack of a social media profile could prompt US visa denial The Trump administration has also moved to revoke international student visas and continues to investigate Harvard through multiple federal agencies. Isaac Stone Fish, CEO of Strategy Risks, said his report 'should not be read as a blanket condemnation' of Harvard. However, he added, 'The X.P.C.C. is one of the world's most notorious organizations.' You Might Also Like: US to revoke visas of Chinese students linked to Chinese Communist Party or critical fields, Marco Rubio announces
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
PM Modi-led Cabinet approves two big Indian Railways projects: Koderma–Barkakana, Ballari–Chikjajur doubling gets nod; check details
The railway expansion projects span across seven districts in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. (AI image) Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for two Indian Railways projects, with a combined expenditure of Rs. 6,405 crore. The first project involves doubling the Koderma-Barkakana track (133 kms), which runs through Jharkhand's primary coal-producing region. This route also provides the most direct and efficient railway connection between Patna and Ranchi. The second project is the doubling of the Ballari-Chikjajur line (185 kms), extending across Karnataka's Ballari and Chitradurga districts, and Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district. The railway expansion projects span across seven districts in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, adding approximately 318 kilometres to the existing Indian Railways network. The multi-tracking initiatives will benefit roughly 1,408 villages, serving a population of about 28.19 lakh residents. These routes are crucial for transporting various commodities including coal, iron ore, finished steel, cement, fertilisers, agricultural products, and petroleum items. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The enhanced capacity will accommodate additional freight traffic of 49 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). As railways provide an environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient transport solution, these developments will support climate objectives and reduce national logistics expenses. The project will decrease oil consumption (52 Crore Litres) and CO2 emissions (264 Crore Kg), equivalent to planting 11 Crore trees. These infrastructure enhancements will boost the Indian Railways' operational capacity, leading to better efficiency and reliability in service delivery, according to CCEA press release. The multi-tracking initiatives aim to optimize railway operations and reduce traffic congestion. The initiatives stem from the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on multi-modal connectivity. Through coordinated planning, these initiatives aim to establish uninterrupted connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
