Dubai/Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest visit to the Gulf has upended traditional power dynamics in the Middle East, as regional and international observers note a shift that leaves Israel increasingly isolated amid changing alliances.
Nothing illustrated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diplomatic solitude more vividly than the image of Trump shaking hands in Riyadh with Syria’s new Islamist leader, Ahmed al‑Sharaa—an individual long labeled by Israel as “an al‑Qaeda terrorist in a suit.”
“He’s got the potential. He’s a real leader,” Trump told reporters after the meeting, which was arranged by his Saudi hosts during a tour punctuated by multibillion-dollar arms, technology, and energy deals.
The four-day journey through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates was not merely ceremonial. According to three regional and two Western diplomatic sources, the trip underscored the emergence of a new Sunni-led regional axis, diminishing Iran’s “axis of resistance” and sidelining Israel in the process.
U.S. frustration with Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza conflict—particularly his refusal to agree to a ceasefire—has been growing, the sources said. Although Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit Trump in Washington after his return to office in January, the tour served as a diplomatic rebuke.
“This administration is very frustrated with Netanyahu and that frustration is showing,” said David Schenker, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under President George W. Bush.
“They’re very, very transactional, and Netanyahu isn’t giving them anything right now.”
Despite ongoing strategic ties, sources emphasize that the U.S. intends to communicate its priorities clearly to Netanyahu: American interests in the region come first.
This tension stems not only from Netanyahu’s firm stance on Gaza but also his objection to U.S. diplomatic engagement with Iran over its nuclear program.
Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the visit and has not issued any official statements. Meanwhile, the White House sought to reaffirm the bilateral relationship.
“We continue to work closely with our ally Israel to ensure remaining hostages in Gaza are freed, Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and to strengthen regional security in the Middle East,” said National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt.
However, six diplomatic sources confirm that friction between the two governments had been simmering for months—accelerated by Netanyahu’s surprise April visit to Washington seeking support for military strikes on Iran. He was reportedly blindsided to learn the administration was preparing to reopen talks with Tehran.
Subsequent developments, such as Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire in Yemen, a warming of ties with Syria’s new leadership, and a decision to bypass Israel during the Gulf visit, have only deepened the divide.
David Makovsky, a fellow at the Washington Institute, remarked: “Washington and Tel Aviv don’t seem in sync on the big questions the way they were in the first hundred days” of Trump’s presidency.
Gaza Conflict Deepens Diplomatic Rift
Trump had pledged during his campaign to end the Gaza conflict and secure the release of Israeli hostages before resuming office. However, Netanyahu has refused ceasefire calls, expanded military operations, and provided no viable post-conflict strategy. The war, now in its 19th month, has led to over 52,900 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials.
The war began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken. Despite international calls for restraint, Netanyahu has persisted in his military campaign, while also facing war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court and a domestic trial over corruption allegations.
As Trump concluded his visit, Israel launched a new offensive in Gaza, killing hundreds more Palestinians. Efforts to expand the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to commit to a peace process with the Palestinians.
“He’s got no strategy, no day-after plan on Gaza,” said Schenker. “And he’s standing in the way.”
While Trump publicly denied any tension with Netanyahu during a post-tour Fox News interview, sources suggest he is actively advancing U.S. interests without the Israeli prime minister’s involvement.
One senior Gulf official said the visit confirmed Saudi Arabia’s ascendancy in the Sunni Arab world. Years of Iranian adventurism and Israeli bombardments of Tehran’s allies in Gaza and Lebanon have left Iran weakened.
“Iran had the leading role; now Saudi Arabia has entered with other tools: the economy, money, investment,” the official said.
A New Sunni Order Takes Shape
Although Netanyahu built his regional influence on countering Iran, power has shifted to Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. These Gulf states seek American-made weapons, AI technology, and nuclear cooperation to deter Iranian aggression.
Trump, whose foreign policy is noted for blurring personal and national interests, has embraced this opportunity. In Qatar, where he was received with elaborate fanfare, Trump praised the emirate’s efforts to assist in the hostage situation, despite its links to Hamas.
Trump’s warm words for Qatar triggered discomfort in Israel, where officials see Doha as a key supporter of Hamas.
“Many Israelis don’t understand just how central Qatar has become to the U.S.,” said Yoel Guzansky, Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
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While Israel sees Qatar as a threat, the U.S. views it as a vital partner due to its gas reserves, financial resources, and its hosting of the largest American military base in the Middle East.
According to the White House, Trump’s tour secured over $2 trillion in economic commitments. However, a Reuters tally of publicly announced deals puts the figure closer to $700 billion. Notably, Trump finalized a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, sparking Israeli concerns over the region’s shifting military balance.
Trump has also agreed to support a U.S.-led civil nuclear project in Saudi Arabia, another move that raises alarm in Israel.
During the tour, Trump further surprised allies by announcing the lifting of sanctions on Syria—at the behest of Gulf leaders and over Israel’s objections. This decision marked a dramatic reversal of U.S. policy, given Washington had previously offered a $10 million reward for the capture of Syria’s Islamist leader Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
The Gulf states also praised Trump’s negotiated truce with Yemen’s Houthis—part of Iran’s sphere of influence—which ended U.S. military operations in the Red Sea. The truce was announced just two days after a Houthi missile struck Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
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“Israel is more and more looking like a spoiler, that stands in the way not just of the US, but the international community, as it tries to shape the region differently after the fall of al-Assad and Hezbollah, and maybe end the Gaza war,” said Guzansky, a former coordinator for Iran-Gulf affairs at Israel’s National Security Council.
While the Israeli government has stayed quiet, local media and opposition figures have voiced concern that the country’s influence in Washington is waning.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, preparing for a political comeback, sharply criticized Netanyahu’s leadership.
“The Middle East is undergoing tectonic changes before our eyes, our enemies are getting stronger, and Netanyahu… and his gang are paralyzed, passive, as if they…”
