President Trump Visits the Middle East in his First Trip Abroad for Second Term

What Happened?

U.S. President Donald Trump embarked on the first major foreign policy trip of his second presidential term this week. Included in the stops he will make are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. 

The first stop on the international trip was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where President Trump was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. President Trump has stated he intends to sign deals worth a total of one trillion dollars on this trip. Though he did not specify if those deals would be for the U.S. government, his family real estate business, or both.

Why it Matters

The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has undergone significant changes in the past three years due to the Gaza War. Saudi Arabia’s principal rival, Iran, has seen all its proxies suffer defeat at the hands of the Israeli military. Iran itself has suffered a loss of prestige and influence in the region due to the success of Israel in the Gaza War.

With Iran humiliated by Israel and focused on trying to rearm and rebuild proxies like Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia is in a stronger position to grow and gain influence in the Middle East. The visit by President Trump is well timed to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s good times and further strengthen the relationship between the Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

According to Luke Broadwater of the Associated Press, who is traveling with the Trump delegation, President Trump again encouraged Saudi Arabia to increase its investment in the United States above the $600 billion over four years already pledged by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While speaking with the crown prince, Trump asked for that number to be raised to $1 trillion. But it is unclear if even Saudi Arabia has the financial resources to match the trillion-dollar amount.

President Trump has also stated he would consider joining potential peace talks in neighboring Turkey between Ukraine and Russia, though Russian President Putin has not yet indicated whether he would attend. Ukrainian President Zelensky has said he will not participate in any peace talks in Turkey unless Mr. Putin also attends in person.

Also accompanying the Trump delegation are business leaders from some of the largest companies in the U.S., especially the tech sector. They are most likely there to pitch new opportunities to Saudi investors, who are constantly looking for new ways to spend their considerable fortunes. 

How it Affects You

President Trump joins a long list of U.S. presidents who have traveled to the Middle East in search of deals and alliances that will benefit America and its allies. While places like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have deep pockets, they also have deep problems, including ties to extremist groups. For example, Qatar has long given sanctuary to the leaders of Hamas, and often in luxurious surroundings.