Connecting Policy With Business Excellence in the Gulf

Israel responded with alarm to both the U.S. choice to raise sanctions on Syria and President Trump's meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu supposedly asked President Trump not to raise Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's journey to the region. Moreover, considering that the fall of the Assad routine in December 2024, Israel has been careful of the previous jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has also released soldiers in southern Syria, occupying an increasing area beyond the demilitarized zone separating the 2 nations. Moving forward, Israel will stay wary of the Sharaa government and will likely continue to apply military pressure on Syria, including a broadened occupation of southern Syria and periodic air strikes.

Yet, Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact in between Israel and Syria remains an open concern. Rather, Syria might end up being a locus of local power competition in between Israel and Turkey as both look for to apply their impact over Syria's trajectory. Given that the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has lobbied hard for the United States to lift Syria sanctions, citing them as a key barrier to the country's restoration.

For MBS, the U.S. choice stood as an important triumph emerging from Trump's journey. Moving forward, Saudi Arabia will likely motivate the United States to continue along its course towards normalization with Syria. It might promote the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which must be undertaken by Congress. Riyadh may likewise press the United States to control Israel, must it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.

Crucial Middle East Market Research Trends for 2026

Despite widening domestic and worldwide criticism of Israel's approach, the prime minister has actually not fluctuated in his broadening profession of Gaza in the absence of any U.S. pressure. Certainly, the prime minister appears to bask in U.S. assistance, without any tip of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the same trajectory in Gaza, especially considering that a remarkable shift in U.S.

On the contrary, as the global protest against Israel's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing variety of U.S. allies transferring to declare a Palestinian state, Israel is most likely to entrench its position further, reinforced by the prospect of continued U.S. support. The Trump administration announced its choice to reject visas to the Palestinian Authority management ahead of the UN General Assembly, apparently in action to installing require declaring a Palestinian state.

Trump's proposal and restated its refusal to stabilize relations with Israel in the lack of substantial progress towards the creation of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise strongly criticized Israel for the absence of appropriate help streaming into Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading function in pressing for a two-state solution at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most popular effort in this regard. The kingdom will likely continue its behind-the-scenes lobbying of the United States to pressure Israel to relent on these needs, holding out on any progress toward normalization with Israel in the absence of motion on these issues.

Traditional Vs Global Strategy in the MENA Region

Its engagement in the Middle East is shaping the shapes of the emerging local orderwhether by default or design. Specifically, its decisions on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all discuss core difficulties in the region and hold the prospective to move each in a positive direction. Yet, peril and deepening dispute base on the flip side of each chance.

As global trade patterns straighten, a new investment passage is taking shape, linking capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, corporations, and family offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions throughout Latin America's energy, agriculture, fintech, and facilities sectors. Trade in between Mexico and GCC states rose more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has actually nearly doubled over the previous decade.

3 Service sentiment shows this momentum64% of Latin American executives plan to broaden engagement with the Gulf, particularly in farming, renewable energy, and digital services. 4 Underscoring this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently opened its first Chamber of Commerce workplace in Miami, further signifying the growing links between Gulf capital and the Americas.