The shared threat from Iran has pushed cooperation beyond covert intelligence sharing to a public, operational military alliance. The Israeli Defense Forces' chief of staff is now in daily contact with counterparts in Arab nations, representing a historic realignment in Middle East security architecture.

Shattered by their vulnerability and perceived US unreliability during the Iran conflict, Gulf states are poised for a defense spending spree. Rather than relying solely on the US, they are likely to diversify their military suppliers to include Europe and South Korea, aiming for a more independent, 'armed neutrality' posture.

The US military action, especially the blockade of the Straits of Hormuz, is harming Gulf nations economically. Instead of strengthening an anti-Iran coalition, this 'half-baked' approach is eroding goodwill and pushing these crucial partners away, undermining the primary strategic benefit of the operation.

Once a symbol of American power, US bases are now vulnerable, above-ground targets for Iran's precision drones. This undermines the US's role as a regional protector and causes allies like Saudi Arabia to seek security guarantees elsewhere, turning assets into liabilities.

Fiona Hill predicts a global shift where countries in Europe and the Gulf forge stronger regional partnerships. They are actively reducing their dependence on the United States, which is increasingly viewed as a source of instability and a 'liability' rather than a reliable guarantor of security.

The conflict reveals a dual nature of US support. While advanced American military equipment like missile defense systems proved highly effective in mitigating attacks, the political commitment to intervene and protect Gulf interests has repeatedly disappointed regional leaders, creating a crisis of confidence.

Despite extensive lobbying, massive investments, and oil production increases aimed at pleasing the Trump administration, Gulf leaders failed to prevent a regional war. Their efforts were ultimately overridden by US prioritization of Israeli security interests, a major strategic miscalculation for the Gulf.

While the war highlights the danger of the US partnership, Gulf states are counterintuitively forced to deepen their reliance on American military support for immediate defense. This creates a strategic paradox: they need the US for short-term survival but see the alliance as a long-term liability.

Contrary to the belief that Gulf states always wanted a hardline US policy on Iran, their perspective shifted after 2019. When Iran attacked Saudi and UAE assets and the Trump administration failed to respond, they realized the US was an unreliable defender. This prompted them to make their own peace with Iran, a policy directly undermined by the recent US-led war.