Trump in the Gulf States: billion-dollar deals and crisis talks!

Trump in the Gulf States: billion-dollar deals and crisis talks!

Saudi-Arabien, Land - US President Donald Trump began on May 16, 2025 his multi-day trip to the Gulf States, the Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The visit was characterized by a lavish reception, which was supposed to underline the importance of this region for American foreign policy. Trump took the opportunity to thank the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for the modernization of the kingdom and focused on economic investments.

The golf states announced investment commitments of several hundred billion US dollars. However, these promises were interpreted as vague because they also included old, unfulfilled commitments. In addition, the low oil price threatens to influence the actual willingness to invest. According to reports to the daily news, China remains the most important customer of the oil from the region, which makes the Gulf States to align their foreign policy multipolar and to rely less on the USA.

Military support and diplomatic tensions

During his visit, Trump received applause for the statement that Saudi Arabia's defense was military. However, there were no concrete commitments regarding the support of the Saudi nuclear program or security guarantees. The President asked the Gulf States to build diplomatic relationships with Israel, but was therefore rejected. The Arab states urged Trump to put pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza; He also did not pursue this.

An important result of the visit was to decide the US sanctions against Syria. This happened at the request of the Saudi crown prince and the Turkish president. The Gulf States have also declared their intention to invest in the reconstruction of Syria. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are planning extensive investments in the country who was visited by the civil war.

Humanitarian aid for Syria

In connection with the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Gulf States are reminiscent of their promises of $ 900 million to help Syrian civil war victims. This promise took place during an international encounter conference in Kuwait, where Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait made the majority of $ 1.5 billion. The Kuwaiti Emir announced $ 300 million for humanitarian purposes, while the EU and the United States had previously promised $ 400 million.

King Abdullah II of Jordan expressed concerns about the economic burdens of his own country, which has taken up hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. An estimated 350,000 of the approximately 700,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan currently live. Around 3,000 people cross the border to Jordan every day, and the number of refugees could increase to one million, which entails other humanitarian challenges. In view of the still ongoing violence in Syria - the UN confirms over 60,000 deaths since the start of the uprising in 2011 - the need for support and humanitarian aid is urgently.

The ombudsmen of the United Nations and Organizations, such as doctors without limits, warn of the catastrophic situation in Syria, which is characterized by food shortages, medical undersupply and violence. Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General, repeatedly asked to stop bloodshed immediately.

Donald Trump's journey not only shows the geopolitical ambitions of the United States in the region, but also the urgency of the humanitarian situation, which continues to require international attention.

tagesschau.de reportsAbout the results of Trump's visit, whileworld.dethe humanitarian commitments of the Gulf States emphasize.