The Impact of the United States on Military Spending in the Arab Gulf States During the Reign of Donald Trump: 2017-2020

This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of the US policy on military spending in the Arab Gulf States during the reign of Donald Trump extending from the 2017 to 2020, and to clarify the nature of military spending and the indications of this spending. The study relied on the historical system analysis and descriptive analysis approaches to describe the nature and size of military spending in the Arab Gulf States, and the amount of change that occurred in its size during the reign of US president Donald Trump. The study showed that the US foreign policy towards the region during the tenure of US President Donald Trump was based on the principle of paying for protection, and that non-payment nullifies the alliance with it and its defense. As a result, most of the Arab Gulf states concluded many military deals with the United States, as well as pledged to finance American military operations in the region, as military deals were concluded between the United States and Saudi Arabia estimated at about $ 110 billion, and a contract between Qatar and the United States in an aircraft deal of about 20 billion dollars. The size of the military spending of the Arab Gulf States during the period (2016-2019) reached (326.5 billion dollars). The average expenditure of GDP reached (33%) of GDP during that period, and it increased in 2019 to (40%). The Sultanate of Oman topped the total percentage of military spending during the period (2011 -2019), reaching (91.50%).