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Israel responded with alarm to both the U.S. choice to lift sanctions on Syria and President Trump's meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu supposedly asked President Trump not to raise Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's trip to the region. Moreover, since the fall of the Assad program in December 2024, Israel has actually watched out for the previous jihadist now in control in Damascus.
Predicting the 2026 Middle East Corporate LandscapeIt has also released troops in southern Syria, occupying an increasing location beyond the demilitarized zone separating the 2 countries. Going forward, Israel will stay cautious of the Sharaa government and will likely continue to use military pressure on Syria, consisting of a broadened profession of southern Syria and occasional air strikes.
Yet, Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact between Israel and Syria remains an open question. Instead, Syria could end up being a locus of regional power competition between Israel and Turkey as both seek to apply their influence over Syria's trajectory. Considering that 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 key challenge to the nation's reconstruction.
For MBS, the U.S. decision stood as a crucial victory emerging from Trump's trip. Going forward, Saudi Arabia will likely motivate the United States to continue along its course toward normalization with Syria. It may promote the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which need to be undertaken by Congress. Riyadh might likewise press the United States to control Israel, must it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.
Key Middle East Market Research Insights in 2026, with no tip of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the exact same trajectory in Gaza, specifically because a significant shift in U.S.
On the contrary, as the international outcry worldwide Protest's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing number of U.S. allies moving to declare a Palestinian state, Israel is likely to most likely its position further, bolstered by the prospect of continued U.S. ongoing.
Riyadh instantly rejected Trump's proposal and reiterated its refusal to normalize relations with Israel in the absence of substantial progress towards the production of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise strongly criticized Israel for the absence of adequate help streaming into Gaza. Following the August 22 starvation statement, Saudi Arabia, while not calling out the United States, faulted the Israeli profession as the cause of the "humanitarian disaster" in Gaza.
Its leading role in pressing for a two-state service at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most popular 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 needs, holding out on any development towards normalization with Israel in the lack of movement on these issues.
Its engagement in the Middle East is shaping the contours of the emerging regional orderwhether by default or design. Particularly, its decisions on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all discuss core obstacles in the region and hold the prospective to move each in a positive direction. Yet, hazard and deepening dispute base on the other side of each chance.
As global trade patterns realign, a new financial investment corridor is taking shape, connecting capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, conglomerates, and household offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions throughout Latin America's energy, agriculture, fintech, and facilities sectors. Trade in between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has actually nearly doubled over the previous years.
3 Company belief reflects this momentum64% of Latin American executives prepare to broaden engagement with the Gulf, especially in farming, eco-friendly energy, and digital services. 4 Highlighting this momentum, Saudi Arabia just recently opened its very first Chamber of Commerce workplace in Miami, additional signifying the growing links between Gulf capital and the Americas.
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