It makes no sense to put more Arab money into the US alliance | US-Israel War on Iran

For many years, the Gulf states operated under the assumption that their most important ally was the United States. They have formed a broad and diverse alliance with Washington, covering security, energy, finance, and diplomacy.

By launching its war alongside Israel against Iran, however, the US abandoned its Gulf partners, ignoring their complaints and concerns. Now, as the Trump administration tries to negotiate with Iran, it also seems to have Israel’s interests as a priority; the concerns of its Arab allies are also not being ignored.

No matter how much these countries do or how much they are willing to give, their interests will always be used by Washington whenever they collide with Israel’s.

A permanent contract

Few alliances in modern history have deepened or strengthened as much as the one between the Gulf and the US, with the Gulf states effectively opening up their territory to America’s unlimited military presence. Trade between the two sides went through $120 billion in 2024, supported by Gulf investments in the US economy. This has coincided with a large US presence in the Gulf markets in technology, energy and infrastructure.

The growth of this interdependence was further emphasized at the 2025 Riyadh summit, which provided a trade agreement with an investment of more than $2 trillion. In the same year, Gulf economies sent about $70bn to the US property.

Continuing on the topic, the Gulf has long played a role in financing the US by refinancing its Treasury bonds, helping to create low-cost borrowing and strengthening the dollar’s dominance around the world, while supporting hundreds of thousands of US jobs in all sectors of manufacturing, defense and technology.

Instead, Gulf governments expect something more important, for their core interests to be recognised, if not prioritized.

These interests were closely related to US policy. They can be broken down into three pillars: first, economic diversification, a smart transition from dependence on hydrocarbons to more sustainable and stable economic models; second, regional stability, important for attracting investment, supporting growth, and promoting long-term development; third, energy security, the steady flow of oil and gas, which was the pillar of global economic stability.

In order to achieve these goals, the Gulf countries have invested a lot of money – financial and political – in building a stable regional system, pursuing negotiations over conflicts. For example, Saudi Arabia moved to Yemen to end the war, opened a path with Iran and Turkey and developed relations with countries such as Pakistan. These steps were not clever gestures; they were part of a broader strategy to create flexible, regionally compatible infrastructure.

All this seemed to be in line with US interests. Washington has previously stated that the Middle East’s priorities include securing energy supplies, stabilizing oil markets, and ensuring regional stability in order to move toward Asia. And yet, the Trump administration chose to go against what they claim to stand for.

Sorting out chaos in a stable environment

Meanwhile, it is clear that Washington has decided to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his pursuit of regional instability and control.

By choosing to advance Netanyahu’s agenda, even if it is based on its own interests, Washington has effectively put the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb – the world’s most difficult place to extract energy – at risk, showing the global oil and gas markets to be extremely volatile.

These US decisions have thrown the entire region, and the Gulf countries in particular, into chaos. We may have future earthquakes for years to come, driven by global fears and coupled with energy imbalances.

Here, the Gulf and Arab countries must realize a real reality: there can be no sustainable regional stability built on dependence on the US. Americans are not children of this country or of this community. No matter how many countries multiply, and how interconnected the world becomes due to globalization and technological change, geography and demographics will remain decisive in shaping preferences. A power that is thousands of kilometers away, based in different places and places, cannot depend on the interests of the Arabs.

However, some countries continue to invest in the “special relationship” with the US, rejecting the agreement. For example, the United Arab Emirates recently decided to leave OPEC, which has long supported Arab countries that produce oil for the US and other countries. This move suggests giving up rather than developing cooperation and working through conflicts. In the short term, this may seem like the right decision to preserve the interest of the country, but in the long run, it plays into the hands of those who want to divide and rule the Arab world – something that is not in the interest of the Emirati.

Instead of investing heavily in alliances with Washington, Arab countries should focus on regional development that focuses on economic, security and military self-reliance, as is the case with Turkey and Iran. They should focus on internal dialogue and greater cooperation and pursue broader strategies that contribute to stronger stability based on political cooperation and constructive competition, rather than reliance on foreign aid.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect Al Jazeera’s influence.