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Economic Ties: Gulf-US Financial Engagement (2024-2025)
A snapshot of major financial agreements and trade figures between the Gulf region and the United States.
Primary Sources
Saudi-US Relations: Nine Decades of Strategic Partnership, Converging ...
After World War II, the partnership expanded as Middle East stability became critical to international balance. Saudi Arabia played a central role in maintaining that stability, while the United States provided military and technical support to strengthen the Kingdom's defense capabilities.
It does not make sense to invest more Arab resources in a US alliance
For decades, Gulf states operated under the assumption that their most important strategic partner was the United States. They built an extensive and multidimensional partnership with Washington, one that spanned security, energy, finance, and diplomacy.In launching its war alongside Israel against Iran, however, the US sidelined its Gulf partners, ignoring their appeals and concerns. Now, as the Trump administration attempts to negotiate with Iran, it again appears to have the interests of Israel as its top priority; the concerns of its Arab allies are once again overlooked.No matter how much these countries have done or how much more they are willing to offer, their interests will remain expendable in Washington whenever they collide with those of Israel.An alliance of stabilityFew alliances in modern history have been as deep or as mutually reinforcing as the one between the Gulf and the US, with with Gulf countries effectively opening their territory to a near-unconditional American military presence. Trade between the two sides exceeded $120bn in 2024, underpinned by Gulf investments in the US economy. This has been matched by a significant US presence in Gulf markets across technology, energy and infrastructure.The scale of this interdependence was further underscored at the 2025 Riyadh summit, which yielded trade and investment agreements surpassing $2 trillion. In the same year, Gulf sovereign wealth funds channelled nearly $70bn into US assets.Beyond headline figures, the Gulf has played a longstanding role in financing the US by recycling its Treasury bonds, helping sustain low borrowing costs and reinforcing the dollar’s global dominance, while supporting hundreds of thousands of US jobs across manufacturing, defence and technology sectors.In return, Gulf governments expected something fundamental, that their core interests would be recognised, if not prioritised.These interests had been remarkably aligned with US policy. They can be distilled into three pillars: first, economic diversification, a strategic shift away from dependence on hydrocarbons towards sustainable and resilient economic models; second, regional stability, a prerequisite for attracting investment, enabling growth, and sustaining long-term development; third, energy security, the uninterrupted flow of oil and gas, which was a pillar of global economic stability.In pursuit of these goals, Gulf states invested heavily – financially and politically – in building a more stable re...
The Illusion of American Protection: Gulf States' Leverage, War, and ...
Political scientist specializing in Middle East politics. There is a stark contradiction between the Arab Gulf states' systemic importance to the global economy and Washington's recurring disregard for their strategic interests.
Gulf states consider Israel security pact as Iran war drags on
Economic and strategic pressures mount The conflict has heightened Gulf states' vulnerabilities due to proximity to Iran, reliance on maritime chokepoints, and concentrated energy infrastructure.
