US president Donald Trump meets with Crown Prince and Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in Washington in 2025. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar founded the GCC in 1981 to co-ordinate policies and promote Islamic values. Saudi Arabia has adopted a contradictory position. The crown prince and other Gulf leaders are in no position to commit forces to the campaign because Israel is involved. By joining Israel in this war, Saudi Arabia would also jeopardise its guardianship of the Muslim holy shrines in Mecca and Medina.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2026 00:58 UTC