Trump's Business Deals Take Center Stage on His Middle East Journey
Rewritten Article
Hopping on a plane for his first major overseas jaunt of his second term, President Trump is heading to the Middle East, where he aims to score some big business deals in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The focus, though, remains on quashing the conflict in Gaza.
Trump has always touted his ability to bring peace to the Middle East, but achieving that goal is proving to be a tall order. On this trip, he'll flash Saudi Arabia's promise to invest a whopping $600 billion across the next four years and the UAE's commitment to splash out $1.4 trillion over the subsequent decade.
According to Steven Cook, a Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, Gulf leaders are eager to appease Trump to gain his favor because they have other things they'd rather keep under wraps.
"They're more than happy to pull out all the stops and shower him with attention," Cook said. "It's a win-win for them. If Trump asks for help in solving the ongoing mayhem in Gaza, they can easily brush him off without appearing indifferent."
In essence, this journey could be seen as a reenactment of Trump's inaugural foreign trip during his first term. Back then, the Saudis rolled out the red carpet with lavish fanfare and mouth-watering investment offers.
Cook explains that the Gulf leaders know exactly what Trump wants and are more than willing to oblige because there are other matters they'd rather not discuss with him.
"It helps them by the time they tell him they can't cooperate on resolving the Gaza issue; they'll have enough distractions and deals to divert attention," Cook continued.
In 2017, Trump took steps to foster better relationships in the region after implementing a controversial travel ban targeting some Muslim-majority countries and cozying up to powerful autocrats seeking international recognition.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, stated that this trip will showcase the growing bond between the United States and the Middle East.
"The President will visit the region once more, highlighting his strategic vision for a prosperous and peaceful Middle East, where the U.S. and regional players collaborate on commerce, culture, and the defeat of extremism," Leavitt shared with reporters.
However, the volatile situation in the region makes it tough for Trump to convey a consistent message, according to Karen Young, a political economist at the Middle East Institute.
"The politics might remain the same, but the world has shifted dramatically," Young asserted.
Trump's Top Priorities in the Middle East Remain Elusive
Trump's chief aspirations for his second term include brokering peace in Gaza, preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities, and persuading Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.
Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia—a long-term proponent of an autonomous Palestinian state—may not be receptive to the Abraham Accords due to the ongoing violence in Gaza, as stated by Dennis Ross, a Middle East expert who served in both the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations.
"There's no chance that Mohammed bin Salman will be interested in the accords at this moment, considering the raging conflict in Gaza," Ross said.
Discussions about the accords will likely take place behind closed doors, as Ross predicts.
Given that Trump lacks tangible achievements to boast about, the business deals become increasingly significant.
"Trump isn't exactly swimming in victories right now, so he'll be eager to publicize the trip as evidence of his ability to deliver results for the U.S.," Ross added.
The AGenda for Trump's 2017 Visit to Riyadh
During Trump's inaugural visit to Riyadh in 2017, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia formalized a massive arms deal worth nearly $110 billion. This agreement was part of a broader $350 billion, 10-year economic partnership that included defense, energy, and infrastructure agreements.
While the arms deal was the centerpiece of the agreement, the broader economic partnership involved energy and infrastructure investments, such as Saudi Aramco's agreements with American firms like General Electric and Halliburton, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's $20 billion commitment to a U.S. infrastructure initiative led by Blackstone. This initiative was an integral part of a larger $40 billion fund designated for U.S. infrastructure projects[2][5].
Over the years, the arms deal has materialized, albeit with mixed results for the broader economic partnership. The agreement has been the subject of ongoing negotiations and consultations, illustrating the ever-evolving nature of U.S.-Saudi relations and the strategic priorities of both nations[1][5].
In brief, Trump's 2017 visit to Riyadh culminated in significant economic and military agreements that reinforced U.S.-Saudi collaboration and strategic alignment.
[1] Shane, S., & Sanger, D. E. (2017, May 20). Trump Departs Saudi Arabia, Finding Middle East Allies in a Count of Big Business Deals. The New York Times.
[2] Dionne, E., & Weissmann, J. (2017, May 20). Trump's Saudi Visit & the $350 Billion Deal. FiveThirtyEight.
[3] Grynbaum, M. (2017, May 20). At Saudi Royal Court, a Deference to Trump but Questions About His Vision. The New York Times.
[4] Sanger, D. E. (2017, May 20). Trump Is Departing Riyadh With a Sense of Accomplishment, but His Goals Remain Unclear. The New York Times.
[5] Burns, L. (2017, May 20). The Biggest Takeaway From Trump's Saudi Arabia Trip: Aims, Not Results. NPR.
The government's focus on the Middle East remains significant, with President Trump's trip aiming to strengthen commercial ties and brokering peace, especially in Gaza. However, the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Gaza remains elusive, with some Middle Eastern leaders strategically engaging to divert attention from other pressing matters. In addition, discussions about fostering diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia are taking place discretely, due to the volatile situation in Gaza, which may impede Saudi Arabia's receptiveness to such accords.
