LIVE BREAKING: Trump’s Refusal To Return To War With Iran Will ‘Cost Him Dearly,’ Saudi Expert Claims

According to a report by Anadolu News Agency on Friday, May 29, 2026, comments made by Saudi political analyst Mubarak al-Ati during a recent television interview have sparked renewed debate over shifting alliances and changing power dynamics in the Middle East, particularly regarding Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the United States and the future of regional diplomacy.

Speaking on Russia Today TV last week, Ati argued that confidence in Washington’s long-term security commitments has weakened among several Gulf nations. He suggested that recent American foreign policy decisions have caused regional powers to reassess their strategic positions and pursue a more independent diplomatic course.

During the interview, Ati criticized the administration of US President Donald Trump, claiming the American leadership has shown reluctance to become directly involved in another major military confrontation in the Middle East. According to Ati, this hesitation has contributed to perceptions that the United States is no longer willing to project power in the same way it once did across the region.

The Saudi analyst pointed to the 2021 withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan under former President Joe Biden as a major turning point in global perceptions of US influence. He described the withdrawal as a symbolic moment that encouraged rising regional powers to reconsider their dependence on Washington for political and military backing.

Ati maintained that the global balance of power is undergoing significant transformation, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, India, and Brazil expanding their diplomatic options beyond traditional Western alliances. He argued that emerging economies now possess greater freedom to build relations with multiple global actors, including China and Russia, rather than relying exclusively on partnerships with the United States.

The comments also touched on the future of the Abraham Accords, the normalization framework established between Israel and several Arab nations. Ati claimed that Gulf states are approaching American pressure regarding further normalization efforts with increased caution. He suggested that Saudi Arabia has deliberately avoided taking sides in recent regional confrontations involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.