322
Audio & Video Production308
Software Development236
Automation & Workflow202
Marketing & Growth185
Writing & Content Creation188
AI Infrastructure & MLOps144
Data & Analytics113
Design & Creative146
Photography & Imaging141
Customer Support117
Voice & Speech129
Sales & Outreach110
Education & Learning118
Operations & Admin78
After Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz during a U.S. Israel war, long standing U.S. Gulf oil for security ties are being questioned and reworked.
In short: The old U.S. Gulf bargain of steady oil in exchange for U.S. military protection is increasingly seen as obsolete after the Strait of Hormuz was shut.
For decades, the U.S. relationship with Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE was often described as “oil for security.” In simple terms, Gulf countries helped keep oil flowing to global markets, and the U.S. helped protect the region and key shipping lanes.
That idea has been badly shaken by recent events. In early March 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz during a U.S. Israel war. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage that much of the Gulf’s oil and gas exports pass through (like a chokepoint bridge on a highway). The closure blocked exports and triggered what the source describes as the largest oil market disruption in history.
Trust had already been slipping. The U.S. did not stop or strongly deter several major attacks in recent years, including the 2019 strike on Saudi Aramco facilities at Abqaiq, a 2022 assault linked to Abu Dhabi’s airport, and a September 2025 Israeli strike on Doha. At the same time, the U.S. has produced far more oil at home, including shale oil, cutting its reliance on Gulf imports by about 80% compared to 20 years ago.
Gulf leaders are not necessarily looking to replace the U.S. as a security partner, since no other country can match U.S. military scale in the region. But they are likely to push for clearer promises, and for cooperation that goes beyond oil, such as technology and investment. Another key question is whether U.S. bases will be seen as protection or as targets that bring risk.
Source: NYTimes