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Israel reacted with alarm to both the U.S. choice to lift sanctions on Syria and President Trump's meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly asked President Trump not to raise Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's trip to the region. Given that the fall of the Assad routine in December 2024, Israel has actually been careful of the previous jihadist now in control in Damascus.
How to Optimise GCC Strategy in 2026It has likewise released soldiers in southern Syria, occupying an increasing location beyond the demilitarized zone separating the two countries. Going forward, Israel will stay careful of the Sharaa government and will likely continue to use military pressure on Syria, including an expanded occupation of southern Syria and occasional air strikes.
Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact between Israel and Syria remains an open concern. Given that the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has lobbied hard for the United States to raise Syria sanctions, citing them as a key barrier to the nation's restoration.
For MBS, the U.S. decision stood as an important victory emerging from Trump's journey. Going forward, Saudi Arabia will likely motivate the United States to continue along its path towards normalization with Syria. It might promote the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which need to be carried out by Congress. Riyadh might also push the United States to rein in Israel, must it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.
How to Optimise GCC Strategy in 2026, with no hint of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the very same trajectory in Gaza, particularly given that a significant shift in U.S.

On the contrary, as the international outcry worldwide Israel's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing number of U.S. allies moving to declare a State state, Israel is likely to entrench its position further, bolstered by boosted prospect of possibility U.S. support.
Riyadh instantly turned down Trump's proposal and repeated its rejection to normalize relations with Israel in the lack of considerable development toward the production of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has actually also strongly criticized Israel for the absence of appropriate help streaming into Gaza. Following the August 22 famine statement, Saudi Arabia, while not calling out the United States, faulted the Israeli occupation as the cause of the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Its leading function in promoting a two-state option 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 press Israel to relent on these demands, holding out on any progress toward normalization with Israel in the lack of motion on these problems.
Its engagement in the Middle East is shaping the contours of the emerging regional orderwhether by default or style. Specifically, its choices on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all discuss core challenges in the region and hold the possible to move each in a favorable instructions. Yet, peril and deepening conflict stand on the other hand of each opportunity.
As international trade patterns realign, a brand-new investment corridor is taking shape, connecting capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, conglomerates, and family offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions throughout Latin America's energy, farming, fintech, and infrastructure sectors. Trade between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has actually nearly doubled over the previous decade.
3 Company belief shows this momentum64% of Latin American executives prepare to expand engagement with the Gulf, especially in agriculture, renewable resource, and digital services. 4 Underscoring this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently opened its first Chamber of Commerce workplace in Miami, additional indicating the growing links in between Gulf capital and the Americas.
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