Trump's journey to the Middle East. He even impressed some democrats
Trump's donal journey through three rich Arab countries of the Persian Gulf gave the impression of a governor's mission of economic development – in the company of corporate leaders and among the promises of investment – than a typical presidential visit. Usually, these missions full of diplomatic dances are focused on confirming alliances, engaging in difficult negotiations and Promoting the priorities of American foreign policy. Trump did all this, but his chosen allies and priorities were strikingly different.
– It was not a journey in the case of alliances, it was a journey in the case interests and conclusion of transactions – comments Dennis Ross, a professional diplomat and main Advisor for the Middle East in the administrations of George HW Bush, Clinton and Obama. – In the contemporary era of American foreign policy, we did not see American presidents for whom this would be an undoubted priority.
The royal families of Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi developed a lavender rug for the president, escorting Air Force One with elegant fighters and hosting him – and his entourage of American titans of industry – in their decorative, marble palaces
The White House said that Trump provided over $ 2 tr. (approx. PLN 7.6 trillion) in investment contracts in the region, including almost $ 150 billion. (approx. PLN 575 billion) between Saudi Arabia and American defense contractors, ordering a runny nose government on 160 Boeing aircraft and a partnership worth $ 60 billion. (approx. PLN 230 billion) between American energy companies and the state -owned oil company Abu Dhabi.
Donald Trump welcomed at the airport by Sheikh Tamima Ibn Hamad Al Sani, Emir of Qatar. Doha, May 14, 2025
– The economy and national security are inextricably linked to each otherand what the president is doing now is very clear – said on Thursday Sebastian Gorka, a highly erected clerk of the White House for the Fight of Terrorism, during Politico Security Summit.
Offering a completely new version of American mercantilism, Trump clearly sought cooperation based “on trade, not chaos,” definitely breaking with the orientation of foreign policy for decades to cooperate with traditional allies based, at least rhetorically, on common values. He ridiculed his predecessors – not exchanging them by name – As a saintly one and promised that he would not give any lectures on democracy or “he visited the souls of foreign leaders and used the US policy to impose justice for their sins.”
Instead, he showered his counterparts with compliments, describing the Qatarist ruling family as “tall, handsome guys”, and the new leader of Syria – whom the US once called a terrorist – as “attractive” and “hard”. In particular, Trump expressed his admiration for the Saudi prince Muhammed Ibn Salman.
“I like him very much, I like him too much,” said the president during a speech in Riyadh, promoting the crown prince sitting in the first place. Trump presented his decision to abolish the sanctions to Syria As a kind of favor for his host, adding after the announcement of the decision: – Oh, what I do for the prince of the Crown.
The flattery was all the more unusual because only seven years have passed since the murder of Jamal Khahashukdji, a columnist “Washington Post”. American intelligence officials say that It came to the order of IBN Salman. When the former president Joe Biden ran in 2020, he promised to treat Saudi Arabia as “Parias” for breaking human rights – although he later met the prince and nailed with him the unfortunate “turtle”.
According to Ross, President Trump said: How you treat your people is yours, not our business. It is our case to do business.
The next day, Trump flew to Doha for a state visit to the Royal Royal Family, from which he agreed to accept $ 400 million. The jet, which is to be transferred to the Defense Department for use as Air Force One, and then handed over to the presidential library of Trump after the end of his term.
One of the allies of the White House who took part in this journey and to whom we admitted anonymity indicates a large group American business magnates who took part in an investment conference organized by Saudi Arabia, and then traveled and took part in additional celebrations in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Szejk Muhammad Ibn Zajid al Nahajjan, President of the United Arab Emirates, saying goodbye to Donald Trump at the Airport in Abu Dhabi, May 16, 2025.
“They know where the new economic power is,” says our interlocutor, pointing to The developing synergy between the US government and the Arab countries with sovereign property funds that have invested hundreds of billions of dollars around the world. – This is a seismic change of the Persian Gulf region, which becomes a reference point for Trump in economic and security.
The White House admits that Trump “focuses on investments in America”as one of the high -ranking officials, who was anonymous, put it so that he could speak honestly. However, for the author of “Art of the Deal” people around him claim that trade and politics go hand in hand.
At the top of Politico, Gorka assured that the agreement between the USA and Ukraine on minerals will help to end the war with Russiaand Trump's policy in the Middle East from the first term prepared the land under the “mass” of contracts that he announced during the second term.
By praising the economic potential of the region, Trump also took several bold steps in foreign policy, unilaterally changing the attitude of America in the region. Trump not only announced that he tolerates sanctions imposed on Syria at the request of Saudi and Turkish leaders, but also Personally, he met its new president, Ahmed Ash-Szara – A former jihadist, for whom the head of $ 10 million was set until recently. (approx. PLN 38 million)
Welcome to Ahmed Ash-Szar, President of Syria, with Muhammad Ibn Salman. In the background, US President Donald Trump. Riyadh, May 14, 2025
He also offered something he called “Olive branch” for Irancalling for leaders of this country to permission to limit the nuclear program in exchange for sanctioning, suggesting that such an agreement may be finalized in a short time.
“The president played the Middle East quite well”
Republicans praise these moves. Even some democrats admitted that Trump's approach to foreign policy, which deviates from standards Although shocking, it turns out to be effective.
– I don't have to praise Donald Trump, but I have to tell you that in the last week in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia This is a completely different story – said Democrat Jim Himes, a member of the intelligence committee of the House of Representatives, during the Politico Security Summit event. “I have to tell you that I think that over the past week the president played the Middle East quite well,” Himes added.
Others were more skeptical. – He is doing business. There is no philosophy, there is no great national security strategyhe does not conduct politics – said during the Politico event John Bolton, adviser to Trump for national security in the first term, who became an avid critic. – When people describe him as transactional, they are right.
Brett Bruen, who was the director of global involvement in the White House during the time of former President Barack Obama, and currently runs a consulting company, admits that Trump “showed considerable sales and investments”. However, referring to the patterns from the first term of the president, He wonders if they will not be “short -lived”.
– I'm worried that we may not see anymore [efektów] this journey, ”said Bruen. – He also sent a fairly bright signal to other countries that it would be brought by the show and giving it luxuries.
