Trump’s Riyadh remarks signal major shift in U.S. foreign policy, expert says

LONDON/RIYADH, May 15 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements during his visit to Saudi Arabia this week mark a significant transformation in American foreign policy in the Middle East, according to regional analysts.

“We are practically seeing a Trump doctrine in the making,” said Bader Al-Saif, an associate fellow at Chatham House in London, in comments to CNN’s Becky Anderson. “We haven’t seen the U.S. deliver such unconventional policy making in decades, and this is the type of activity we relate to in the Gulf.”

Al-Saif highlighted that Trump’s tone closely aligns with the priorities of Gulf Arab states, emphasizing regional autonomy and reduced foreign interference. “The message is: we can control our region from within, and we need to be listened to,” he said.

In remarks delivered Tuesday at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, President Trump praised the Gulf’s emerging leadership, saying:

“The new generation of Gulf leaders are transcending the ancient conflicts of tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism… not bombing each other out of existence.”

Al-Saif also pointed to the president’s consistent anti-war messaging, calling it “a clear nod to what the Gulf is all about.” He added that Trump’s Gulf-centric focus may leave some traditional U.S. allies feeling sidelined.

“If I were Israel, I would feel a FOMO — a fear of missing out,” Al-Saif remarked.

Trump’s Riyadh visit included the signing of major bilateral agreements, regional security discussions, and high-level meetings with Gulf and international leaders, as part of a broader effort to reposition U.S. policy in the region around economic cooperation and reduced military engagement.