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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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