from 21st Century Wire:
On Monday, President Trump travelled to the Gulf, aiming to secure $1 trillion in deals and investments, according to U.S. and Arab officials. His focus in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE is mainly on financial matters, with less emphasis on geopolitical issues. Although Trump hopes for a Saudi-Israel normalisation agreement, he and his advisors acknowledge its unlikelihood due to the ongoing Gaza conflict, which frustrates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as discussions on Iran and relations with Qatar proceed with little Israeli involvement.
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Upon arriving in Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump received a grand welcome. During his visit, Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman formalised an economic partnership, announcing collaboration in energy, mining, and defense.
The two leaders convened with American business executives participating in a Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh, where Trump presented a leadership address at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, during which he heavily criticised Iran, labelling October 7th as the most significant tragedy in the Middle East’s history (Not a word on the Gaza genocide).
Trump’s primary focus is on attracting significant investments for the US and addressing regional diplomatic relations, including the war in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear program. Trump is said to have signed a $600bn deal with Saudi Arabia, which, according to international reports, includes the “largest defence sales agreement in history.”
The White House has characterised the US President’s visit as a significant return to the Middle East – coming at one of the most crucial periods in the early 21st century, with U.S. hegemony on the dip, and a new multipolar world order seemingly on the rise.
There’s much to discuss in Riyadh. Here what’s on the table, and what’s off the table…
IMAGE: US President Donald Trump shakes hands with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister (Source: The Saudi Press Agency – SPA)
Dave Lawler, Barak Ravid and Zachary Basu report for AXIOS…
All Trump’s roads lead to the Gulf
On everything from international diplomacy to personal business, hostage negotiations to investment deals, Gulf countries are President Trump’s partners of first resort.
Why it matters: Trump, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, is spurning traditional democratic allies in favor of Gulf monarchies — drawn by their wealth, deal-making and growing global clout.
Breaking it down: Each of Trump’s ten most recent predecessors made their first international trips to Canada, Mexico, the U.K. or NATO HQ in Brussels.
- Trump chose Saudi Arabia twice (though he did attend Pope Francis’ funeral first this time around).
- He’ll also stop this week in Qatar and the UAE, with all three legs of the trip expected to focus on huge investment commitments for AI, aircraft, weapons and more.
Zoom in: Trump’s personal business empire in the Gulf is also growing, with projects under development in all three countries he’ll be visiting.
- Trump has hosted the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour at his U.S. properties, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s private equity firm received $2 billion from the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.
- In recent weeks, the Trump Organization has revealed plans to build luxury properties in both Dubai and Doha.
- The Trump family’s crypto venture also announced that an Emirati-backed investment firm would use its new stablecoin to complete a $2 billion transaction — drawing massive outcry from Congress.
Behind the scenes: Officials from all three countries have an unusual level of access in Washington, where Gulf money has long bankrolled an army of lobbyists, influencers and think tanks.
- The Qatari prime minister and the Emirati national security adviser were both granted dinners with Trump on recent visits despite not being heads of state.
- Qatar’s influence in Trumpworld has been a source of particular concern among pro-Israel Republicans, who accuse the Gulf nation of financing Hamas and other Islamist groups. Qatar denies that.
The big picture: Trump has been looking to the Gulf states for more than just their checkbooks.
- Trump turned to Saudi Arabia to host U.S.-Russia talks, and later U.S.-Ukraine talks. Trump was also interested in meeting Vladimir Putin in Riyadh, along with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- While that meeting hasn’t happened, and Trump has now floated the idea of a summit in Istanbul, the kingdom has built ties with both warring countries and the White House and remains a key player in the diplomatic efforts.
- That’s new for a country that’s long been a power within the Arab world, but not beyond it.
The Qataris and Emiratis are more experienced international intermediaries, and Trump has leaned on both repeatedly.
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