American influence appears to be fading in the Middle East. Attributed to both Biden's handling of Afghanistan and western sanctions on Russia seeing oil prices hit historic highs. Jim Stenman is in Dubai, with more on these changing dynamics.

It's one of the world most important alliances – rooted in oil, but today focused on security, though according to a senior Emirati diplomat, currently experiencing a "stress test."

JIM STENMAN Dubai "While the Trump administration enjoyed historic close ties with leaders right here in the gulf, that relationship has certainly shifted during the Biden White House with leaders in this part of the world even refusing to take his phone calls."

HAMOUD SALHI Professor, California State University-Dominguez Hills "We have never seen, uh, this kind of, uh, behavior, uh, in, in the Gulf region."

And the timing is far from ideal. Western sanctions on Russia, over the conflict in Ukraine, have led to historic high oil prices, which Biden needs to bring down ahead of the midterms, where the U.S. president risks losing his democratic majority.

SALMAN AL-ANSARI Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee "America is back, but on the wrong track."

An opinion echoed in Saudi Arabia and UAE, which have, at least so far, rejected U.S. requests to replace Russian oil missing at western gas pumps.

This at a time when gulf producers benefit from higher oil prices, while Dubai, the Middle East's leading business hub, remains open to wealthy Muscovites.

AMENA BAKR Deputy Bureau Chief, Energy Intelligence "You've seen how the Gulf States voted at the UN general assembly. They all voted to end the conflict. However, at the same time they want to remain neutral towards everything else."

As for how Biden's viewed in the Middle East, there's a view he lost credibility over America's chaotic pullout from Afghanistan, while his insistence on reviving the Iran nuclear deal, which could help stabilize oil prices, doesn't do enough to limit Tehran's regional proxies, perhaps especially after recent deadly Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and UAE.

SALMAN AL-ANSARI Saudi Political Analyst "If the Biden administration has dealt with Iran, the way he's dealing with Russia now, I think the Iranian regime will have no option, but to shrink and, and change course."

And with time to save the Iran deal believed to be running out, there's a sense that Biden's ambitious foreign policy plans haven't lived up to expectations.

HAMOUD SALHI Professor, California State University-Dominguez Hills "There is so much talk about human rights about soft power. The Biden administration is experiencing a war in the first two years."

And while that may be the case, America and the Gulf are likely to remain key partners for years to come. Though the White House will have to get used to the region's ever closer relations with china at a time when it's experiencing divisions at home.

SALMAN AL-ANSARI Saudi Political Analyst "The polarization and fight between the Democratic and Republican parties reached an unprecedented level. And that's why I say the U.S. ship is too big to fail, but too divided to sail."

JIM STENMAN, CGTN, DUBAI.