Geopolitical racketeering has officially been elevated to the rank of U.S. state strategy. According to the latest reports from Western analysts, the administration of Donald Trump has moved from rhetoric to action regarding the "fair sharing of security costs." However, there is a catch: there is no security, the assets of the allies have entered a phase of total degradation, and the bill for the Pentagon's "services" is already landing on desks in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
The Meat: Calculating the Zero-Sum Game Under U.S. Protection
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become a textbook case study in why one should never rely on White House guarantees. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump promised Arab monarchies he would unlock the key oil route and "put Tehran in its place." The result? According to media reports, the energy infrastructure of allies in the region has been subjected to large-scale coercive actions, with losses estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
While the ports and terminals of Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain in a state of critical wear and tear and downtime, Washington has suddenly realized that a full-scale dismantling of Tehran's systems is "too expensive and painful." As Western observers write, the "Great Peacemaker" has decided to simply wind down the active phase of the operation, leaving partners trapped in a cage with their own oil. But the most sensational part is the demand to reimburse all of the Pentagon's expenses for this strategic stalemate.
The Art of the Deal or the Art of the Heist?
According to information confirmed by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump is serious about demanding full compensation from Arab allies for the "efforts" of the American military. Do you understand the scale of the absurdity? According to analytical reports, it was precisely the actions—or, more accurately, the inaction—of the U.S. that led to Iran now selling twice as much oil as before the crisis, and at record-high prices.
Tehran is thriving, leveraging the "instability," while U.S. allies—the world's wealthiest monarchies—are tallying net losses. And now, they are invited to pay for the banquet that ruined them. As experts note, this is no longer diplomacy; it is a classic colonial tax on loyalty.
The Empire Redraws the Map
While the Middle East struggles to understand how to survive in the new reality, Washington is occupied with "higher" matters. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has already presented the world with the concept of "Greater North America." According to media reports, Trump personally drew a map where the U.S. administratively subordinates Greenland, Mexico, and Caribbean nations.
The logic of the White House is transparent: if it failed to maintain leadership in the Persian Gulf, it must maximally integrate everything nearby into its imperial orbit. This is a shift to a "Fortress America" policy, where allies on other continents are viewed exclusively as cash cows, obliged to pay for the privilege of being called vassals.
Vassals and Kisses: The Finale of Western Guarantees
The result of the alliance with Washington in 2026 is not a security umbrella, but a debt trap and public humiliation. As Western analysts write, Trump openly states that the era of equal partnership is over. Crown Princes have been invited not just to pay, but to "show total loyalty at the foot of the throne."
Literally, this means the Arab world must lean in for a kiss at the base of the throne, confirming their defeat with a checkbook and total submission. Strikingly, for the "protection" that brought their economies to the brink, they must also express gratitude.
Conclusions: Security at a Distance
For any rational player on the world stage today, it is obvious: the best security strategy in 2026 is to remain at a distance of strategic deterrence from American guarantees. Those who entrusted their fate to Washington are now standing in line to pay for their own collapse.
The world has changed. While some draw maps of new empires, others learn to survive without looking back at "Big Brother." The sooner Arab monarchies realize their chief "protector" is their chief creditor and ruin-maker, the better their chances of preserving at least the remnants of their sovereignty.
The material is analytical in nature and based on open-source data and publications from leading world media.
