Connecting Strategy With Operational Performance in the Middle East

Israel responded with alarm to both the U.S. decision to raise sanctions on Syria and President Trump's conference with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu apparently asked President Trump not to raise Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's journey to the region. Considering that the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has been careful of the former jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has also deployed soldiers in southern Syria, occupying an increasing area beyond the demilitarized zone separating the two nations. Going forward, Israel will remain cautious of the Sharaa government and will likely continue to use military pressure on Syria, consisting of an expanded occupation of southern Syria and periodic air campaign.

Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact in between Israel and Syria remains an open question. Because the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has actually lobbied hard for the United States to raise Syria sanctions, citing them as a crucial obstacle to the nation's reconstruction.

For MBS, the U.S. choice stood as an important victory emerging from Trump's journey. Going forward, Saudi Arabia will likely encourage the United States to continue along its course towards normalization with Syria. It may press for the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which need to be carried out by Congress. Riyadh might also press the United States to control Israel, should it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.

Crucial Middle East Business Research Insights for 2026

Regardless of broadening domestic and worldwide criticism of Israel's technique, the prime minister has not fluctuated in his expanding occupation of Gaza in the absence of any U.S. pressure. The prime minister appears to bask in U.S. assistance, without any tip of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be anticipated to continue along the same trajectory in Gaza, especially because a remarkable shift in U.S.

On the contrary, as the international outcry against Israel's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing variety of U.S. allies transferring to declare a Palestinian state, Israel is likely to entrench its position even more, boosted by the possibility of continued U.S. support. The Trump administration announced its choice to deny visas to the Palestinian Authority leadership ahead of the UN General Assembly, seemingly in action to installing require stating a Palestinian state.

Trump's proposition and repeated its rejection to normalize relations with Israel in the absence of substantial development toward the development of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise highly criticized Israel for the absence of adequate help flowing into Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading function in pressing for a two-state option at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most prominent 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 development toward normalization with Israel in the lack of motion on these problems.

Driving Organizational Excellence in the 2026 GCC

Its engagement in the Middle East is forming the shapes of the emerging local orderwhether by default or design. Particularly, its choices on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all touch on core difficulties in the area and hold the possible to move each in a favorable instructions. Danger and deepening dispute stand on the flip side of each opportunity.

As worldwide trade patterns realign, a new investment passage is taking shape, connecting capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, conglomerates, and household workplaces from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions across Latin America's energy, farming, fintech, and infrastructure sectors. Trade in between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has almost folded the past decade.

3 Business sentiment shows this momentum64% of Latin American executives plan to broaden engagement with the Gulf, especially in agriculture, renewable resource, and digital services. 4 Underscoring this momentum, Saudi Arabia just recently opened its first Chamber of Commerce workplace in Miami, additional signaling the growing links in between Gulf capital and the Americas.