Trump on a glamorous golf trip: A trillion dollars and tensions with Israel!

Trump on a glamorous golf trip: A trillion dollars and tensions with Israel!

US President Donald Trump is planning a comprehensive trip to the Gulf region that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but excludes Jerusalem for now. The trip, seen as an opportunity for big economic and investment announcements, brings back memories of Trump's first term, when Saudi Arabia was also his first destination in 2017. At the time, he promised “hundreds of billions of dollars” of investments in the US, but academic studies suggest that many of these deals have not materialized. Ahead of the current trip, Trump made a new economic push, offering the Saudis a proposal to pay $1 trillion to American companies. This underlines the prevailing focus on economic agreements and business execution during his visit.

Trump will expect a lavish reception in Saudi Arabia, similar to his first visit. Saudi Arabia has already poured $400 billion into the United States as a sign of its willingness to invest, with another $600 billion on the horizon. These investments are important not only to the US economy, but also to the geopolitical interests of the US government. Among other things, investments should flow into areas such as artificial intelligence and the mining of rare earths in order to counteract China's influence in this sector.

Challenges in the region

Although the trip is predominantly economically oriented, challenging topics also remain in the room. Trump has emphasized in the past that Saudi Arabia should seek a ceasefire with Hamas. However, he did not increase pressure on Israel regarding military action against Iran's nuclear program. Current tensions between the US government and Israel are also reflected in Trump's indefinite postponement of a planned visit to Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided on a new offensive plan for Gaza that contradicts Saudi demands for Palestinian sovereignty.

A key theme during Trump's trip will also be the strategy to bind Saudi Arabia more closely to the US, which may be linked to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Experts point out that Saudi Arabia has recognized that economic incentives are crucial to securing American engagement in the region. The Arabian Peninsula remains a central arena for geopolitical competitions, which will also be overshadowed by the approaching Ukraine conflict. Failed plans to address the normative relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel demonstrate the complexity of the challenges facing the US government.

While the focus of the trip will be on economics and investment, it remains to be seen to what extent political differences and the war in Gaza will influence the trip's announcements and outcomes. Trump's penchant for deals could present both opportunities and challenges for diplomatic relations in the region. The growing rift between the US and Israel could prove to be a significant factor that also has the potential to influence economic efforts in the Gulf.

Overall, there are both hopes and concerns about the upcoming trip, which could significantly shape the course of U.S. foreign policy in the Gulf region. Investment and military partnerships are on the agenda, while geopolitical tensions continue to cloud discussions.