Frustration is mounting among U.S. allies in the Gulf as the Iran war drags on, with officials privately questioning President Donald Trump’s strategy and long-term goals, according to a new report in Bloomberg.
Officials are becoming increasingly worried that Trump could strike a deal with Tehran that leaves them exposed. They fear any agreement may fail to curb Iran’s ballistic missile program or support for proxy military groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
“In such a scenario, the Gulf states fear they would be left to deal with an embittered Iran that maintains some kind of control over the Hormuz strait, the people said,” the report said.
The concern comes as the region faces escalating fallout from the conflict, which has entered its first month. The Strait of Hurmuz – a vital global oil corridor – remains heavily affected, contributing to billions in losses, Bloomberg added.
Behind the scenes, officials are questioning Trump's “rationale, commitment and aims for the war, and the value of hosting American bases that have made their countries targets,” according to the report. Despite the growing unease, Gulf allies have kept their criticism largely to themselves.
“Still, wary of angering Trump, none have voiced those concerns publicly, and there’s little prospect of them asking the US military to abandon its bases,” the report noted.
