Frustration with President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran is reportedly growing among America’s Gulf allies, with several countries now questioning whether they should continue hosting major U.S. military bases, according to a report published by The Washington Post.

Citing Arab and Western officials, the report says Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain have become increasingly dissatisfied with the continued missile and drone attacks linked to the conflict. According to the report, some of those governments have begun discussing whether it remains in their national interest to maintain a large American military presence on their soil.

“Trump started the war, and we are paying the price,” an official from one Gulf state was quoted as saying. The official added that anger toward Washington has reached its highest level since the war began in February 2026.

According to the report, regional leaders are particularly concerned by what they view as inconsistent U.S. policy toward Iran. Officials reportedly pointed to repeated threats issued by President Trump against Tehran that were later followed by restraint rather than military escalation.

Bader Al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University, said, “Even before all these zigzags by Trump, there was no clear strategy.”

As Gulf governments reassess their security options, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a new defense pact last week known as the “Mecca Agreement.”

A senior European official who maintains close contact with leaders in the region described the agreement as “a signal to the United States,” adding that the three countries are “trying to diversify their security and defense partnerships” because “from their perspective, the United States is not enough.”

Another Western diplomat stationed in the region said attitudes toward the U.S. military presence have shifted dramatically.

“If in the past the forces were viewed as a necessary evil, now the very necessity of deploying those forces in the region is being questioned,” the diplomat said.

The White House, however, rejected suggestions of a growing rift with Gulf allies. A senior administration official insisted that President Trump “has exceptional relationships with all of the Gulf partners.”

European officials quoted in the report said Gulf governments initially supported the military campaign against Iran, believing it would end quickly with a decisive American victory.

According to those officials, that assessment changed by April 2026 after it became clear that Iran’s regime was unlikely to collapse and that Tehran had no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prompting regional leaders to rethink their long-term security strategy.