UK Secures $5 Billion Gulf Trade Deal Amid Iran War Disruption
🤝 LONDON-GULF — Britain signs trade while its sanctions carve-out already split the coalition. 📌 LOOK CLOSER: A $5B Gulf deal while London quietly exempts Russian refined crude from sanctions signals UK priorities: commercial relationships over coalition discipline. Gulf states reading this see a partner hedging, not leading. For Washington, it's leverage erosion — another ally locking in bilateral gains while collective Hormuz pressure fragments.