Gulf States Eye Trump’s Return Warily

• Donald Trump’s return as US president is broadly welcome among Gulf Arab states, notably for his personal ties and support for fossil fuels.

• But the region has changed since his first term, with the Gaza War encouraging Gulf countries to de-escalate tensions and strengthen ties with Iran.

• There are real risks that Trump could enflame those tensions and embolden Israel’s far-right government, with destabilizing consequences.

Donald Trump’s re-election as US president at a time of intensifying Mideast conflict has been cheered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the region’s biggest likely beneficiary of the rightward turn in US politics. The Gulf Arab states broadly view the US president-elect favorably, too, from his more personalized relationships to his support for fossil fuels. But Trump is a wild card who could enflame tensions in a region that has witnessed seismic changes since he was last in power, with the Saudis and the Emiratis seeking to maintain improved ties with Iran to protect regional stability and investor confidence, and Arab and Islamic leaders this week accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.