On May 14, 2025, as part of his Gulf tour that included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, US President Donald Trump met with the leaders and representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with the Secretary-General of the GCC, at the Gulf–US Summit held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. This meeting was widely described by the media as either historic or strategic in nature. In my view, it was a candid and transparent dialogue between two parties representing both regional and global security paradigms—at a time when the lines between the two have all but disappeared. Despite the importance of the outcomes from the president’s visits to the three countries—which addressed security, political, and military issues—what ultimately matters is that the Gulf states are part of a regional organization, the GCC, which forms a foundational pillar for balancing power and achieving regional security.

Although this was the fourth summit between the United States and the Gulf states, it nevertheless represented an important opportunity for frank discussions on the collective challenges and ways to confront them—free from the sometimes vague language of diplomacy that often lacks detail and decisive resolutions. President Trump’s speech included three key messages:

1. Recognition of the Gulf’s Development: An acknowledgment of the developmental achievements of the Gulf states, recognizing them as a model to be emulated and closely observed by the international community.
2. Outlining US Regional Security Policy: A sketch of the general lines of US policy regarding regional security, including the Iranian nuclear issue (to be resolved either through an agreement or through tightened sanctions), the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, and a de-escalation in Yemen via reference to agreements with the Houthis—along with general mention of other regional security issues, albeit with less clarity.
3. Envisioning the Middle East’s Role: A commitment to transforming the Middle East into a cultural, economic, and diplomatic hub.

Meanwhile, the speeches of the GCC leaders and the Secretary-General emphasized three central themes:

1. Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: The need to end the conflict through a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
2. Support for US-Iran Negotiations: A welcoming of ongoing US-Iran negotiations to reach a nuclear agreement—aligning with the Gulf states’ foreign policies that emphasize peaceful conflict resolution.
3. Strengthening the Strategic Partnership: Reinforcing strategic ties with the US through the framework of the GCC, along with highlighting the importance of stability and security in other conflict zones such as Syria and Yemen.

In my assessment, this summit was not just a platform for Gulf–US strategic dialogue; it also highlighted the active role the Gulf states play in both regional and global security. This is evident through their initiatives and conferences in support of a solution to the Palestinian issue in line with UN resolutions—an issue they see as central to regional security—and their hosting of US-Iran negotiations and mediation roles in other international conflicts.

Despite the significance of the summit’s results, which created a vital new channel for dialogue between the US and the Gulf states on numerous issues, and the economic undertone of Trump’s tour to bolster Gulf–US economic partnerships, there are strategic imperatives for capitalizing on the summit’s outcomes. These imperatives span three concentric circles:

The Gulf Circle: While bilateral security tracks between the US and Gulf states are important—especially those established through post-1991 Kuwait liberation agreements—strengthening the GCC as a regional organization that embodies the collective interests of Gulf countries is crucial. A collective strategic dialogue is vital to set priorities and find shared responses, utilizing mechanisms such as dedicated meetings or those on the sidelines of UN forums.

The Regional Circle: The Gulf is an inseparable part of the regional security architecture. Regional threats directly impact its stability, making it essential to develop permanent and comprehensive solutions. While Trump’s approach treated each issue individually, these issues are interconnected. Prioritizing and resolving some could unlock solutions for others—most notably the Palestinian issue, which Gulf leaders emphasized as a top priority. Solving it would undermine the legitimacy of many non-state actors and their backers in the region. Furthermore, comprehensive reconciliation initiatives in neighboring countries could help rebuild strong national institutions free from sectarian and ideological divisions.

The Middle Eastern Circle: The Gulf is also linked to the broader Middle East—being active in the Horn of Africa and Eastern Mediterranean and playing mediation roles in some conflicts. President Trump stated he wanted a new model for the Middle East “led by its own people, not foreign interventions”—a valid point. What is needed is not more military interventions but solutions to conflicts. Gulf states can contribute not only through mediation but also through their models of tolerance and coexistence, such as the prominent example offered by Bahrain.

The Gulf–US partnership has spanned decades, fluctuating between agreement and disagreement, yet remains a balanced strategic relationship rooted in mutual strategic needs. Events throughout the Gulf’s modern history reaffirm the growing importance of the region not only in oil and geostrategic terms but also diplomatically, economically, and culturally. I believe this is the realization President Trump came to during this summit and his tour of the three Gulf states—that the Gulf is a key regional partner to the US. If this partnership is institutionalized and priorities and working mechanisms agreed upon, it could mark the beginning of a new era in Gulf–US relations.

Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.