The United States risks damaging relations with Persian Gulf states as it warily embraces a Russian initiative for Syria to relinquish its chemical arsenal, analysts say, with Sunni monarchies fearful that the U.S. pullback from military strikes will bolster President Bashar Assad and the influence in the region of his ally Iran.
Disappointment at the decision could further cool relations with gulf countries already frustrated by a lack of U.S. leadership on Syria during the conflict there. Increasingly sharp statements from the normally imperturbable gulf nations reflect the growing sense of unease.
Saudi Arabia, which is spearheading military support for the Syrian rebels, had publicly backed the idea of U.S. strikes, and the rebels themselves had said they hoped to capitalize on any action — however narrowly targeted — to gain ground against government forces.