In an unexpected move, President Trump is set to announce during his visit to Saudi Arabia next week that the U.S. will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia. This shift in terminology marks a significant departure from the long-standing usage of the term “Persian Gulf,” a name that has been historically rooted in the region’s cultural and political history.
This change is likely to have wide-reaching implications, especially in the context of U.S. relations with countries in the Gulf region. While some nations, including Iran, have strongly opposed this shift, others, like Saudi Arabia, have long advocated for the use of the term “Arabian Gulf” as a way to emphasize Arab influence and identity in the region.
The announcement is expected to stir up both praise and controversy, as it underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to aligning more closely with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states. How this decision will impact U.S.-Iran relations, as well as broader geopolitical dynamics, remains to be seen.
