Trump travels to the Gulf – billion-dollar arms deal and explosive meetings!

Trump travels to the Gulf – billion-dollar arms deal and explosive meetings!

Donald Trump is currently on an important trip to the Gulf region. Shortly before his departure, he announced a major arms deal with the United Arab Emirates, which includes military equipment worth around $1.4 billion. The deliveries include six CH-47F Chinook helicopters and maintenance parts for F-16 fighter jets. The US State Department confirmed the sale, which is interpreted as a contribution to US national security. This trip represents Trump's first major trip abroad in his new term in office and takes him to, among other places, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

A meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is planned in Riyadh. The crown prince has had de facto control of Saudi Arabia since 2017 and has extensive financial ties to Trump. Critics accuse bin Salman of overstepping boundaries in the exercise of his power, particularly in the case of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi. During his first presidency, Trump remained loyal to bin Salman, who rarely appears in public as power is concentrated in his hands.

Economic ties and gifts

Trump and his entourage have intensive economic relations with the Gulf region. The Trump Organization recently announced new projects, including a Trump hotel in Dubai and a golf club in Qatar. Particularly striking is the handover of a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar to the US Department of Defense, which will serve as Air Force One. The jet is worth $400 million and will be handed over to his presidential library after Trump's term in office. However, there are concerns about the constitutionality of the gift, while the Justice Department assured that the handover was legal.

Trump had already made deals in the region before his presidency, including selling the 45th floor of his Trump Tower to Saudi investors. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has also maintained close ties with bin Salman. After Kushner left the White House, two billion dollars from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund flowed into his investment company.

Arms Sales and Political Controversies

Trump is trying to link the need for arms sales to Saudi Arabia with protecting U.S. jobs. He is emphasizing an alleged $450 billion deal with Saudi Arabia to justify why he is not taking action against bin Salman in connection with Khashoggi's killing. This deal is said to include an order for $110 billion in US military equipment and weapons, but experts consider this to be excessive.

The CIA concluded that Mohammed bin Salman was most likely responsible for Khashoggi's murder. This poses a particular challenge for US policy, as Germany, for example, has banned all arms sales to Saudi Arabia. While Saudi Arabia has signed about $14.5 billion in commitments to buy U.S. weapons since Trump took office, no concrete contracts have been signed yet. At the same time, the US defense industry plans to build a local arms production industry in Saudi Arabia to reduce dependence on oil and create local jobs.

Amid these developments, the US Senate is considering a proposal to sell 12,000 guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, amid ongoing discussions about possible consequences in the Khashoggi case. The complex mix of economic, political and moral aspects continues to put Trump and his administration under pressure.