The failure of the U.S. president’s Mideast visit in July can be attributed largely to insensitivity over the legitimate concerns of GCC countries. It’s yet another example of America’s long-standing pattern of pushing for its own agenda at the expense of others’ dignity.

President Joe Biden’s trip didn’t measure up to expectations. That’s because America’s hegemony in the region is not what it used to be. If the Biden administration had recognized this early, U.S. diplomacy would have been more rewarding.

Locked in a mindset of great power competition, the U.S. president has been trying to find a new balance. Decades of military involvement in the region not only cost the U.S. dearly but also provoked a sort of psychological fatigue.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent trip to the Middle East was disappointing at best against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine. The Biden administration’s attempt to promote allegiance against Russia and promote oil production has ultimately fallen flat.

Can the U.S. president accomplish his goals during his Middle East trip? Oil is the top priority, but the chance of success is perhaps 50 percent. Shaping an anti-Russia coalition won’t happen. Yet, Israel does offer some relatively low-hanging fruit.

America wants to back away some, but not entirely, as the region has become an important geopolitical factor. So U.S engagement will be limited. With Eastern Europe and the Asia-Pacific in play, it cannot afford to add resources to the Arab region.

American policy in the Middle East has Saudi Arabia thinking about selling oil to China in Chinese yuan rather than U.S. dollars. The shift would weaken the dollar’s dominant position in the global oil market.

Reestablishing order in the region must start with recognizing and defending sovereignty. While it is urgent that the incoming Biden administration address the Iran nuclear issue to forestall proliferation, regional order should be a top priority.

Iran is blaming Israel for the assassination, but its response has been restrained. It doesn’t want to provoke Trump into launching a last-minute attack on its nuclear facilities. But the guns are locked and loaded. When will the shooting begin?

Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with relatively young leaders, have the will to promote trade and military cooperation with Israel. But putting their national interests ahead of the broader interests of the Arab world may not play well in the long run.