Gulf states view US security umbrella as unreliable following US-Iran war

Gulf countries have concluded following the outbreak of the US-Iran war that the American "security umbrella" can no longer be considered reliable, Report informs referring to Time magazine, citing regional officials.

According to the article, the war in the Middle East has forced Gulf nations to reconsider their perspective on the US. There is now a realization that Washington is prepared to launch a regional war alongside Israel despite objections from Arab nations, but is unable or unwilling to manage the fallout.

The publication indicates that Gulf states have long doubted a consistent US strategy regarding Iran, as Washington's war aims shifted weekly. The administration of Donald Trump, rushing to exit the conflict even with the Strait of Hormuz closed, left Gulf states feeling drawn into a war without warning, consultation, or protection, the article notes.

Amid growing doubts about the US, most Gulf states have returned to a strategy of deterrence and de-escalation rather than confrontation with Iran. For instance, Qatar and Oman pushed Washington toward signing a memorandum with Tehran, Saudi Arabia supported a Pakistani mediation track, while the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain also joined peace initiatives.

While there is no unified consensus on how to navigate a region with diminishing US dominance, Arab nations anticipate the construction of a new security architecture, the article emphasizes.