New Economic Reality in the Middle East: The Decline of American Protector

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen has reached a new level of complexity, particularly as it questions the diminishing expectations for American intervention. Recently, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appealed to President Donald Trump for a series of US-led strikes against Yemen. This repeated assumption of an 'American savior' is now seen as misplaced and ineffective. The actions of the American government in recent years not only challenged this dependency but also suggested that American military bases in the Middle East may be more sources of instability than security. The 2019 attack on the Abqaiq and Khurais petrochemical facilities, attributed to Iran, did not elicit a military response from America. This current impasse suggests an important geopolitical shift where local forces must take greater responsibility for their own power dynamics and security. This will have direct implications for global markets, particularly in terms of energy security and international trade relations. In a rapidly transforming world, Saudi Arabia and other GCC states need to reassess their strategies and alliances to adapt to the new geopolitical reality.