Donald Trump’s policies are provoking growing concern and criticism: the decision to grant an exemption from the sanctions regime against Russia is irritating even Republicans, while protracted wars and Washington’s inconsistent steps, analysts say, are weakening American influence and bringing its opponents closer together. Additional pressure on Israel over settler violence in the West Bank, along with broader instability in the region, is raising further questions about the United States’ ability to maintain its strategic position. Based on publications by Al Jazeera (Saudi Arabia).
U.S. Policy Heightens Saudi Arabia’s Concerns
Changes in U.S. foreign policy, protracted armed conflicts and rising domestic economic costs are deepening doubts about Washington’s ability to remain the unquestioned guarantor of security in the Middle East. In an Al Jazeera article, this trend is examined through the lens of the inconsistent course pursued by Donald Trump’s administration, the wars surrounding Ukraine and Iran, sanctions policy toward Russia, as well as U.S. tariffs and rising fuel costs.
Although the publication does not cite direct statements by Saudi officials, politicians or experts, Saudi Arabia occupies an important place in it as an example of an energy power’s vulnerability to modern asymmetric threats. Attacks on the kingdom’s oil infrastructure and Houthi missile and drone strikes demonstrate that even a country with large military expenditures and close ties to the United States cannot regard the protection of vital facilities as fully guaranteed.
Particular attention is paid to the development of inexpensive drones and precision-guided missiles. These technologies significantly reduce the traditional advantage enjoyed by states with the most powerful armies, expensive weapons systems and substantial resources. For Riyadh, this is not a theoretical problem: oil facilities, export infrastructure and supply routes remain potential targets, and any successful strike could have consequences not only for domestic security but also for the global energy market.
The article cites journalist Patrick Cockburn’s assessment that both the United States and Russia are struggling in their attempts to achieve decisive victories over opponents with inferior military capabilities—Ukraine and Iran. This conclusion calls into question the notion that technological and resource superiority automatically ensures a swift end to conflicts. For Saudi Arabia, such a situation means that it must rely not only on external guarantees, but also on its own air defenses, critical-infrastructure protection, regional diplomacy and an expanded circle of international partners.
The connection between the confrontation with Iran, the security of the Persian Gulf and conditions on fuel markets remains particularly sensitive. According to data cited in the Al Jazeera publication, the war caused gasoline prices in the United States to rise by approximately 50%, while diesel prices increased by about 70%. For the Saudi economy, high energy prices may generate additional revenue; at the same time, instability poses risks to oil production and transportation, investment plans and the implementation of the Vision 2030 economic diversification program.
The conflict in Yemen and the security of the Red Sea also remain part of Saudi national security. Houthi actions against targets in the kingdom show that regional crises can quickly extend beyond local fronts and affect export chains, maritime shipping and critical energy infrastructure. Under these conditions, dependence on the U.S. military presence does not eliminate risks but becomes merely one element of a more complex security system.
The article’s overall assessment is that the chaotic and contradictory nature of Washington’s policies is undermining allies’ confidence, while prolonged wars are depleting the United States’ political, financial and military capabilities. For Saudi Arabia, this increases the need for a cautious balance: maintaining strategic relations with the United States while strengthening its own defenses, developing regional channels for dialogue and avoiding direct involvement in a confrontation that could threaten the stability of the Persian Gulf and the kingdom’s long-term economic priorities.
