In brief
In the lead-up to the November 2024 election, Gulf states are clearly positioning themselves in favor of another Trump administration, driven by memories of favorable interactions during his first term. Just two weeks before the election, Donald Trump engaged with a popular Arabic-language TV station, favorably portraying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia as a “visionary.” Meanwhile, his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, did not reach out to Arabic-speaking audiences, which did not go unnoticed in the Gulf region.
The sentiment among Gulf states suggests a strong inclination towards rekindling their partnership with Trump, highlighted by comments from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who emphasized a productive working relationship established during Trump’s previous presidency. During that time, Trump built close ties with leaders in the Gulf, offering robust defense assistance and generally avoiding critiques of their human rights records.Looking ahead, Gulf nations are eager for support from a Trump-led administration to address ongoing conflicts in the region and obtain assurances related to their national security. Moreover, they hope for increased U.S. investment as they work to diversify their economies, which heavily depend on the energy sector. The political landscape is further complicated as Trump solidifies his connections to these key players, suggesting that there could be fruitful negotiations and collaborations in store should he regain the presidency.
