In the first few months of the year, as Iranian-backed militants launched a wave of missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, frustration towards the US was simmering inside the Gulf states’ royal courts.

The monarchies have long looked to Washington as their traditional security partner. But in their eyes, the US was displaying scant regard to the threat their nations faced as increasingly sophisticated weapons targeted cities, airports and oil infrastructure.

When US President Joe Biden ordered billions of dollars of armaments to Ukraine to help it fight Russia’s invasion, they saw this as further proof that Washington was not treating their longtime Gulf partners with the respect they believe they deserve.