President Donald Trump, the dealmaker and peacemaker (supposedly), is gearing up for a trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the wars in Gaza and Ukraine hanging over his head like a dark cloud. The visit is all about his economic-focused ambitions, with a strong emphasis on investment and economic priorities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The itinerary includes a Saudi state visit, a summit of Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, and a U.S.-Saudi business summit with execs from major U.S. companies.
A proposed gift from Qatar of a luxury plane has raised eyebrows and questions about ethics and security concerns, but Trump is all about highlighting the financial value of the gesture. It’s all about business, according to Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The White House is on the same page, emphasizing the importance of a secure and stable Middle East for America’s partners and the U.S. to prosper.
The Trump family is also expanding its business ventures in the Middle East, with a deal for a Trump-branded golf course near Doha, Qatar, in partnership with a Saudi Arabian firm. This move has critics concerned about potential conflicts of interest and profiting from the presidency. In Qatar, Trump is set to deliver a speech and meet with American troops at the Al Udeid Air Base. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among the top officials accompanying Trump on this journey. Discussions with the Qatari government about the royal family’s gift of the plane will also be on the agenda, as questions surrounding ethics and transparency continue to swirl.
As Trump embarks on his Middle East trip, he faces diplomatic opportunities and challenges, with conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine threatening to overshadow his economic and financial deals. The war in Gaza could derail efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, a key foreign policy achievement of Trump’s first term. While President Joe Biden tried to broker a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas complicates matters. Saudi Arabia has reiterated its support for a Palestinian state as a condition for establishing ties with Israel, making the prospects for a Saudi-Israeli agreement seem unlikely.
Despite the challenges, Trump is determined to be seen as a global peacemaker, with plans to potentially fly to Turkey for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former senior administration official believes that Trump’s desire to end the war in Ukraine quickly has not materialized, leading to frustration and doubts about his ability to bring about peace. Amidst all the uncertainty and complexity, Trump remains focused on his economic agenda and dealmaking prowess as he navigates the intricate web of international relations in the Middle East.
