After Trump’s ‘Failed’ China Trip, This Gulf Nation No Longer Trusts US Shield Against Iran? | MBS

Is the Middle East quietly entering a post-American security order, or is Washington simply losing its grip on old assumptions? After what some critics described as Donald Trump’s failed diplomatic push in China, Gulf states are reportedly reassessing whether the United States can still function as a reliable security guarantor against Iran. Saudi Arabia, in particular, appears to be exploring a strikingly different strategic direction, one that involves not just managing tensions with Tehran, but potentially formalising a non-aggression framework with Iran itself. According to the Financial Times, this idea draws from Cold War-era European diplomacy, suggesting a shift from confrontation to structured coexistence. At the same time, concerns over Iran’s missile and drone capabilities continue to shape regional calculations, even as diplomatic channels quietly expand. Reports also indicate that Gulf states are already debating broader security arrangements involving Iran, while European capitals cautiously back elements of the Saudi approach. Layered onto this is growing scepticism about U.S. regional commitments, as incidents involving restricted access to bases and contested naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz highlight emerging fault lines. Together, these shifts suggest a region no longer waiting for external guarantees, but actively redesigning its own security architecture in real time. INTERNATIONAL NEWS #SaudiArabia #Iran #USForeignPolicy #MiddleEast #GulfStates #Geopolitics #Trump #ChinaVisit #XiJinping #StraitOfHormuz #EnergySecurity #DefensePolicy #Diplomacy #NonAggressionPact #HelsinkiProcess #FinancialTimes #Washington #Riyadh #Tehran #GlobalOrder #SecurityShift #WorldPolitics #BreakingNews #WarAndPeace #RegionalSecurity Download the Hindustan Times App from Playstore/App Store for all the latest news & updates. google app store : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ht.news&hl=en_IN&pli=1 Apple Store : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ht.news&hl=en_IN&pli=1 Add Hindustan Times as your preferred source on Google. Click here: https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=hindustan%20times Hindustan Times Videos brings all the News for the Global Indian under one umbrella. We break down news from across the globe from the unique lens of a Rising India. Tune in for Explainers, Opinions, Analysis and a 360 degree view of big events in India and the World which impact your present and future. Follow the Hindustan Times Channel on WhatsApp for News Alerts, Top Stories and Editor picks. Join Us Today - https://www.bit.ly/3PQ4kSv Subscribe to the Hindustan Times YT channel and press the bell icon to get notified when we go live. Visit our website https://www.hindustantimes.com/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/htTweets Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hindustantimes