# Saudi Expert: Trump's Iran Stance Costs Him Diplomatic Leverage
*Analyst Mubarak al-Ati says US decline prevents Gulf states from taking Abraham Accords demands seriously amid shifting Middle East dynamics.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/saudi-expert-trumps-iran-stance-costs-him-diplomatic-leverage
- Sección: Sociedad
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-05-29T07:05:42.556Z
> Saudi analyst Mubarak al-Ati argues that the US's perceived decline allows Gulf nations to ignore Trump's Abraham Accords demands.

## Las claves

- A Saudi analyst argues that President Trump's refusal to escalate military conflict with Iran damages US diplomatic leverage.
- The critique focuses on current United States foreign policy regarding its traditional partners in the Persian Gulf.
- Gulf states are diversifying partnerships and re-evaluating alliances due to perceived American geopolitical weakness.

A prominent Saudi analyst has issued a sharp critique of current United States foreign policy, suggesting that President Donald Trump’s refusal to escalate military conflict with Iran is significantly damaging American diplomatic standing in the Middle East. Mubarak al-Ati, a noted expert on Gulf affairs, argues that this strategic hesitation is not merely a tactical choice but a symptom of broader geopolitical weakness that is altering how regional allies view Washington.

### Declining US Influence in the Gulf

According to al-Ati, the United States is experiencing a noticeable decline on the international stage. This perceived reduction in power and resolve has profound implications for the relationships between Washington and its traditional partners in the Persian Gulf. The analyst suggests that this shift in power dynamics is fundamentally changing the calculus for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, who are increasingly evaluating their alliances based on current realities rather than historical commitments.

The core of al-Ati’s argument centers on the Abraham Accords, the series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations brokered during the Trump administration. Al-Ati claims that the US's current posture regarding Iran has led Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to take Trump’s recent demands to expand or deepen these accords with less seriousness than in the past. The implication is that without the threat of military confrontation with Iran, the US lacks the leverage it once held to compel regional cooperation.

### Strategic Implications for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, as the largest economy in the Arab world and a key US partner, plays a pivotal role in this dynamic. The analyst’s comments highlight a growing sentiment among Gulf leadership that they can no longer rely on the US to enforce regional security frameworks unilaterally. This perspective suggests that Riyadh and other Gulf capitals are diversifying their diplomatic and security partnerships, looking toward other global powers to balance their interests.

The refusal to return to a state of war with Iran is viewed by al-Ati as a critical failure in projecting strength. In the traditional view of Middle Eastern geopolitics, military readiness and the willingness to use force are often seen as prerequisites for diplomatic success. By stepping back from this posture, the administration is inadvertently signaling a retreat from its role as the primary security guarantor in the region.

### Shifting Regional Dynamics

This analysis underscores a broader trend of realignment in the Middle East. As the US appears to be withdrawing from its role as the dominant external power, Gulf states are exercising greater autonomy in their foreign policy decisions. The Abraham Accords, once seen as a cornerstone of US-led regional integration, are now being re-evaluated through the lens of national interest rather than alliance obligation.

For the United States, the message from Saudi analysts is clear: diplomatic initiatives require credible backing. Without the perceived strength to confront adversaries like Iran, the US may find its proposals for regional integration met with skepticism or outright dismissal. This marks a significant challenge for American foreign policy, which has long relied on the trust of Gulf allies to maintain stability and counter Iranian influence in the region.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/saudi-expert-trumps-iran-stance-costs-him-diplomatic-leverage