Trump's Israel Aid Cut Raises Gulf Doubts on US Commitments

President Trump announced an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to end Washington's annual $4 billion aid package to Israel after this year, a move that could undermine Gulf states' confidence in US regional commitments. The decision was outlined Tuesday without prior public coordination with Jerusalem. The timeline is significantly shorter than Netanyahu's January proposal to phase out aid over 10 years, though experts note the move aligns with his long-standing push for Israeli self-reliance. Uncertainty remains over whether the 10-year US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding is affected, and any changes would require congressional involvement. Regional perceptions may be shaped by recent US actions, including treatment of Kurdish partners in Syria and a passive approach to the Saudi-Houthi conflict. However, analysts suggest the announcement, made before midterm elections, may be a domestic political maneuver rather than a fundamental policy shift.