In the era of renewed global trade protectionism, US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies-designed to promote American industry and reduce dependency on foreign imports-are reverberating far beyond their intended targets. While headlines have focused largely on US-China trade frictions or the implications for American consumers, a less examined but highly consequential outcome is the deepening realignment between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and Asia. What’s emerging is a significant shift in global economic and geopolitical dynamics: a “pivot to Asia” from the Gulf that is simultaneously inviting renewed interest from Europe.

Trump’s tariffs were initially aimed at countering what he framed as unfair trade practices by China and protecting American manufacturing. However, these duties disrupted long-standing global supply chains and trade flows, prompting countries worldwide to reevaluate their dependencies and strategic alliances. Among the most adaptive have been the GCC states-Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. For them, Trump’s protectionist policies served as both a signal and an opportunity to intensify existing economic outreach to fast-growing Asian markets.

Countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia have responded quickly. Vietnam and the UAE have recently upgraded their diplomatic relations, while Saudi Arabia has directed considerable investment toward Malaysia and Indonesia. The Saudi Public Investment Fund’s injection of $100 million into Malaysia’s low-cost airline AirAsia is a prominent example of this new economic closeness. Likewise, Indonesia and the Kingdom have been exploring expanded trade and infrastructure cooperation.

A landmark report by the Asia House think tank underscored just how far this “pivot to Asia” has progressed. In 2022, two-way trade between the Middle East and Asia hit a record $512 billion. Driving this figure are major bilateral trade........

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