Arab states are banking on Saudi Arabia to use its relationship with Donald Trump and political heft in the region to act as a check on the president-elect’s Middle East policies amid fears that he will pursue a staunchly pro-Israel agenda.
After Trump named a number of ardently pro-Israeli nominees and Iran hawks for key positions, Arab officials worry his incoming administration might approve any moves by Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, occupy Gaza or escalate tensions with Tehran.
But they hope Riyadh can temper the incoming administration’s policies in the region by leveraging Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s relationship with Trump, the president-elect’s appetite for financial deals and his expected desire to strike a “grand bargain” that would lead Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalise relations.