Gulf states are reassessing billions of pounds' worth of investment commitments to the United States as the Iran war tears through their energy infrastructure, tourism sectors and defence budgets. The Financial Times reported on 5 March 2026 that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait have begun an internal review of existing and future financial agreements with Washington, including examining whether force majeure clauses can be legally invoked.
The development carries enormous consequences for the global economy: these four nations collectively control some of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds and, during Donald Trump's Gulf tour in May 2025, pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in US investments, agreements now under quiet but serious scrutiny.
