Middle Eastern countries, disregarding the influence of the U.S., which thinks little of international order, are eyeing a move to a framework to independently ensure their own national security.
If the [U.S.-Saudi] nuclear deal hits a deadlock, Riyadh may pivot to alternative suppliers — a shift that would significantly erode American strategic leverage in the Middle East.
President Trump’s messy handling of the Iran conflict has helped birth an axis that brings nuclear capability, serious money, and growing international clout together.