Forward-Thinking Operational Excellence for 2026 Markets

Israel responded with alarm to both the U.S. choice to raise sanctions on Syria and President Trump's conference with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu apparently asked President Trump not to lift Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's journey to the region. Considering that the fall of the Assad routine in December 2024, Israel has been careful of the previous jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has also released soldiers in southern Syria, inhabiting an increasing area beyond the demilitarized zone separating the 2 nations. Going forward, Israel will remain wary of the Sharaa government and will likely continue to use military pressure on Syria, including a broadened profession of southern Syria and occasional air strikes.

Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact in between Israel and Syria remains an open concern. Considering that the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has actually lobbied hard for the United States to raise Syria sanctions, mentioning them as an essential obstacle to the nation's reconstruction.

For MBS, the U.S. choice stood as a crucial victory emerging from Trump's journey. Moving forward, Saudi Arabia will likely motivate the United States to continue along its path towards normalization with Syria. It may promote the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which need to be carried out by Congress. Riyadh may also push the United States to check Israel, must it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.

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In spite of expanding domestic and global criticism of Israel's method, the prime minister has actually not wavered in his expanding profession of Gaza in the absence of any U.S. pressure. Indeed, the prime minister appears to bask in U.S. assistance, with no tip of a shift in policy. Moving forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the same trajectory in Gaza, specifically given that a significant shift in U.S.

On the contrary, as the global outcry versus Israel's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing variety of U.S. allies transferring to declare a Palestinian state, Israel is likely to entrench its position even more, boosted by the possibility of ongoing U.S. support. The Trump administration revealed its decision to deny visas to the Palestinian Authority leadership ahead of the UN General Assembly, seemingly in response to installing require declaring a Palestinian state.

Riyadh instantly declined Trump's proposal and reiterated its refusal to stabilize relations with Israel in the lack of significant progress toward the production of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has actually also highly slammed Israel for the absence of sufficient help streaming into Gaza. Following the August 22 scarcity declaration, Saudi Arabia, while not calling out the United States, faulted the Israeli occupation as the cause of the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading role in pushing for a two-state solution at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most prominent effort in this regard. The kingdom will likely continue its behind-the-scenes lobbying of the United States to push Israel to relent on these demands, holding out on any progress towards normalization with Israel in the lack of movement on these concerns.

Leading Operational Change in the 2026 GCC

Its engagement in the Middle East is forming the shapes of the emerging regional orderwhether by default or style. Particularly, its decisions on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all touch on core difficulties in the area and hold the possible to move each in a positive instructions. Yet, hazard and deepening conflict base on the flip side of each chance.

As global trade patterns straighten, a new investment corridor is taking shape, linking capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, conglomerates, and family offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions across Latin America's energy, farming, fintech, and infrastructure sectors. Trade between Mexico and GCC states rose more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has almost folded the past decade.

3 Company sentiment reflects this momentum64% of Latin American executives plan to broaden engagement with the Gulf, especially in agriculture, renewable resource, and digital services. 4 Underscoring this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently opened its first Chamber of Commerce office in Miami, further signifying the growing links between Gulf capital and the Americas.