America’s key Gulf allies are becoming increasingly frustrated with the Trump administration’s handling of the war with Iran, with several governments reportedly beginning to reconsider their heavy dependence on Washington for security.

According to a Washington Post report cited by Israeli media, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are increasingly concerned over what they view as the absence of a clear U.S. strategy for ending the fighting.

The frustration has reportedly reached the point where Gulf governments are examining whether it remains in their interests to continue hosting major U.S. military installations.

“Trump started the war and we are paying the price,” an official from one Gulf country said.

Despite the growing tensions, the Gulf states remain heavily dependent on the United States for their security and are not preparing to sever their defense relationships with Washington. Instead, officials are increasingly looking to diversify their military and strategic partnerships.

One example cited in the report is a recently signed defense agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, which a senior European official described as a deliberate “signal to the United States.”

The Gulf states are “trying to diversify their security and defense partnerships,” the official said, adding: “From their perspective, the United States is not enough.”

The White House rejected suggestions that Washington’s relationships with its Gulf partners are in crisis, saying President Donald Trump “has extraordinary relationships with all of our Gulf partners.”

Bader Al-Saif, a professor at Kuwait University, said concerns over American policy predate the latest tensions.

“Even before all these Trump zigzags, there was no clear strategy,” he said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)