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NDTV
19-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Trump's Durbar: Back To 'Pax Americana' In The Gulf?
What did the three Gulf hosts get from lavishing on President Trump? The over-the-top style and substance on display by the three hosts had several reasons. As the dust settles on the pageantry and financial outbidding that accompanied US President Donald Trump's four-day Gulf tour that ended last Friday, several aspects stand out in bold relief. Some of them are flashy and transactional, but several others are germane and are likely to have long-term, even historic, significance. Either way, this first major foreign visit in Trump 2.0 to an area of vital interest to India requires careful analysis for its likely impact on our geopolitical interests. Big Money For its sheer optics, Trump's Gulf tour was quite over the top, with his three hydrocarbon-rich hosts going overboard in offering him mega-deals. Saudi Arabia ordered $142 billion worth of American weapons and promised to invest up to $600 billion in the US economy. Qatar, the next stop, offered deals worth $1.2 trillion, including orders for 210 Boeing airliners still on the drawing board. Apart from a $400 million gift of a new 'Air Force 1', Doha also promised to spend $10 billion on America's al-Udaid air base in Qatar. Abu Dhabi was the last stop, and the United Arab Emirates had already committed $1.2 trillion in bilateral synergy during the next ten years. In the event, $200 billion worth of deals, mostly in aircraft, upstream hydrocarbon projects and advanced Artificial Intelligence chips, were signed. Trump's claim to have transacted business worth two trillion dollars during the tour may qualify as a "truthful hyperbole" (a quote from his book The Art of the Deal), and a Reuters tally whittled the sum down to $700 billion. It is, nevertheless, still a substantial harvest for a four-day tour. Apart from sheer numbers, of special significance was the alacrity with which the White House blessed the sale of state-of-the-art weapons to the Kingdom and the UAE. Until recently, the United States administration was quite reluctant to do so as it would erode Israel's qualitative edge in defence against its Arab adversaries. Similarly, Trump broke new ground by making available the most advanced AI chips to the two countries, dismissing the longstanding compunctions about the cutting-edge technology being passed down to China. Why The Arab World Diversified Its Options The geopolitical gains of the visit were, however, more of a mixed bag. Its biggest achievement was the re-establishment of the Pax Americana over the Arabian Peninsula. Historically, the bilateral oil/investments-for-security compact has been in place for eight decades following the meeting between US President Roosevelt and Saudi King Abdulaziz aboard USS Quincy in 1945. In the last two decades, this arrangement had been demoted for several reasons. Firstly, the Shale upstream technology enabled the US to shrug off its dependence on Gulf oil and gas. Secondly, Arab regimes got tired of moralising by Washington, which was seen as equivocal about supporting them against the tide of the "Arab Spring" phenomenon. Further, the US was deemed an unreliable security guarantor after Washington's inaction in the wake of the Abqaiq attack in 2019 on Saudi oil installations and Houthi missile attacks on Abu Dhabi in 2021. The American denial of offensive weapon systems to these countries was also a case in point. The Gulf Arabs responded to the perceived US unreliability by trying to diversify their geo-strategic options towards China, Russia and India. Beijing became the largest trading partner for almost all the GCC states. President Xi paid a historic visit to Riyadh in December 2022 and held triple Summits. In June 2023, China's mediation led to Iran and Saudi Arabia re-establishing diplomatic ties after nearly a decade of rupture. China's offerings under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and BRICS rubrics found some Gulf takers. The OPEC+ was formed largely to bring Russia into OPEC's fold. Despite enormous Western pressure, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states did not take sides in the Ukraine conflict, refusing to condemn Russia or sanction it. Washington was seen to be complicit in Israel's brutal war on Gaza, further deepening the suspicions in the Muslim world, in general, and the GCC, in particular. However, Trump's high-profile visit swept these reservations aside and resuscitated the traditional oil/investment-for-security compact with various caveats in place. A side success was the dramatic lifting of the US sanctions on the new Syrian regime led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, former militia leader, until recently with a $10 million US bounty on his head. Heeding Trump's call for lower oil prices, Saudis worked energetically within OPEC+ to significantly boost the supply side by unlocking the production curbs. This led to a nearly 20% fall in global oil prices in 2025, even though it also resulted in a precipitous decline in Saudi oil revenue. What Couldn't Be Nevertheless, Trump's tour was not an unblemished success story. Riyadh denied Trump the coveted achievement of joining the Abraham Accords by resolutely refusing to recognise Israel until the resolution of the Palestinian statehood conundrum. Israel, on its part, did nothing to help the atmospherics of Trump's visit by launching new attacks on Gaza and Yemen. From the Saudi perspective, the expected public signing of strategic agreements on civilian nuclear cooperation and a bilateral defence treaty failed to materialise. Similarly, Trump's positive remarks about Turkey and Iran would have hardly been reassuring to the GCC leaders. While there has been a great deal of speculation about whether Israel's exclusion from Trump's itinerary meant a cooling of the bilateral ardour, most observers do not detect any strategic chasm, pointing out that Prime Minister Netanyahu is the only leader to have been twice to the Trump 2.0 White House. Last, but not the least, the Trump tour's outcome is likely to await the conclusion of the ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks. Why The Extravaganza? The question that needs asking is what did the three Gulf hosts get from lavishing on President Trump? The over-the-top style and substance on display by the three hosts had several reasons. Firstly, they trusted the Trump Presidency to restore stability and security to the region after two years of tumultuous disruption. Secondly, the GCC countries' quest for alternate security pivots concluded that Russia and China were no substitutes for the United States as an overarching security guarantor. Thirdly, their exhilaration in welcoming Trump was a sign of relief on the Biden-Trump switch as they found the former insufferable for his moralising aloofness and insensitive to their security concerns. Fourthly, they shared and appreciated Trump's directness and transactional attitude. Fifthly, as a real-estate developer turned politician, it was possible to monetise most issues with the Trump Presidency. Sixthly, while the US had gained energy independence from the Gulf oil supplies, it still needed massive investments from the GCC countries to arrest the economic decline worsened by the tariff wars - providing ample reverse leverage. Lastly, Trump had personal vulnerabilities, such as megalomania, preference for quick fixes, "royal envy", love of flattery and affluence, rendering him malleable to the usual Arab court mannerisms. Never mind, much of the promised mega-wealth transfer may not take place. In reverse, Trump found GCC leaders to be straightforward - an antithesis of the high-brow leaders of the Western democracies that he deprecated. Takeaways - And A Parallel - With India What are the takeaways for India from this Trump-flexing in the neighbouring Gulf, where we have several well-known vital interests, ranging from a large diaspora to remittances, oil and gas dependence, $160 billion in annual trade and large investments? Firstly, if Trump's Gulf focus makes the Gulf more stable and secure, it is in our general interest, with projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor finally taking off. Secondly, if the lion's share of the Gulf's investible corpus gets syphoned to America, less is left for us to partake. At the same time, our economy may benefit collaterally through subcontracts, supply chains, provisions for services and manpower. In case an Iran nuclear deal comes through, the entire Gulf and West Asia would become an American preserve, adding to Washington's heft on us. Thirdly, the huge induction of state-of-the-art American weapon systems to this region may have security implications for India. Lastly, the lofty ambitions of the GCC monarchies for a US-led, post-oil, high-tech future may create opportunities for us. The Penchant For 'Tamasha' Historically, Indian society, too, has a penchant for a ' Tamasha' (drama). British colonialists tapped into this proclivity by holding Durbars to drive home their point of the empire being omnipotent over India. The Delhi Durbar of 1911, with King George V and Queen Mary seated upon the dais. The last such "Delhi Durbar" was held in 1911 to mark the visit of King George V. It was a grand spectacle with over 500 Indian royalties paying obeisance to the visiting Sovereign. It was, however, followed four years later by Mahatma Gandhi's almost uneventful return to India. Today, with the benefit of hindsight, we know which of the two was a defining historic event. By the same token, Trump's recent Gulf Durbar, however glitzy it may appear now, would need to await posterity's judgement to find its rightful place in history. Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author Share Sign up to read this article FREE! Exclusive Stories: Dive into content reserved just for members. Fewer Ads: A cleaner, more enjoyable reading experience. Enhanced Interface: Tailored just for you. Join Now – It's Free!
Hypebeast
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nike Remixes a Classic Combo with the Air Force 1 Low "Anthracite"
Name:Nike Air Force 1 LowColorway:Anthracite/Gum Yellow-Safety Orange-WhiteSKU:II7630-001MSRP:$115 USDWhere to Buy:Nike Black, white and gum have long been core shades for theAir Force 1, both individually and as a combined offering. While the first two are typically used as tones for the upper and midsole,Nikehas used the third to provide a pop of alternate flair to dozens (if not hundreds) of the silhouette's colorways since it first debuted in 1982. Now, that classic energy is back in a fresh, slightly remixed fashion thanks to theAir Force 1 Low'Anthracite.' Drawing its name from the ultra-dark grey shade that's used on its upper — just a few tones below a proper black — the 'Anthracite' supplies contrasting details with white laces, Swooshes, and midsoles, while down below the ever-so-appealing gum makes its presence felt on the outsole. The details don't end there, however, as the standard nylon tongue is swapped out for one with a breathable mesh, and a few minor hits of 'Safety Orange' get into the mix thanks to their placement on the tongue tag and heel's 'Nike Air' branding. Insoles provide a finishing touch to the retro sport look with their own mesh pattern. Nike has yet to announce a release date for the Air Force 1 Low 'Anthracite,' but it's expected to touch down on the brand's webstore in the coming months. When it does, it should be priced at $115 USD.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ole Miss men's basketball coaches rock custom Air Force 1's vs. Michigan State in Sweet 16
Ole Miss men's basketball coaches rock custom Air Force 1's vs. Michigan State in Sweet 16 Show Caption Hide Caption Should the NCAA transfer portal open before the end of March Madness? Rick Pitino, John Calipari and even J.J. Watt sound off on the transfer portal opening during the NCAA Tournament. Sports Seriously ATLANTA — Ole Miss men's basketball coaches warmed up in style before its Sweet 16 matchup against second-seeded Michigan State. Every coach sported a pair of crimson and deep blue Air Force 1's with '4:1,' 'Hotty Toddy' and 'culture' on the back end of the shoe. The '4:1' phrase is a testament to legendary coach Bob Knight, who died in 2023, and highlights 'the mental is to the physical as four is to one' — a phrase that Knight used to preach. The Rebels are taking that same approach into its matchup with the Spartans. 'The most important game in the four-team tournament is the first game. So for us, it's Michigan State in the first game, and that's where all of our focus is 100%,' Ole Miss men's basketball coach Chris Beard said during Thursday's media availability. The coaches also wore matching Nike pullovers with an SEC logo on the right arm and the signature swoosh on the left side in tandem with dark blue pants — highlighting their school colors. The style switch up is not tradition for the Rebels, with this being the first time the coaches have worn the outfits this season, confirmed Mike Swartz, the Ole Miss assistant director of communications. Andy Mathis is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
The Hill
01-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
FBI returns property seized during Mar-a-Lago raid to Trump
The FBI is returning the property seized during the 2022 raid of Mar-a-Lago to President Trump, according to the White House. 'The FBI is giving the President his property back that was taken during the unlawful and illegal raids. We are taking possession of the boxes today and loading them onto Air Force One,' White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement on Friday. Cheung added that some of the boxes were loaded onto the plane before Trump's Friday flight back to Florida. Alina Habba, the president's counselor, said Friday that she loaded some of the 'infamous' boxes herself onto Air Force 1. 'Justice has been and will continue to be restored in this country under President Trump. TRUTH AND JUSTICE ALWAYS WIN IN THE END. God Bless America,' she said in a Friday post on X. The FBI took 33 boxes during the August 2022 court-authorized search of Mar-a-Lago as part of a probe into Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and alleged obstruction of officials' efforts to get them back. The raid prompted heavy criticism of the FBI by Trump and his allies. The president characterized it as unnecessary. He was contacted prior to the raid by the Justice Department (DOJ) and the National Archives to return the records. Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Special Counsel Jack Smith to investigate whether Trump mishandled classified records. The case ended up being dismissed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in mid-July last year, saying in the ruling that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. 'The Special Counsel's position effectively usurps that important legislative authority, transferring it to a Head of Department, and in the process threatening the structural liberty inherent in the separation of powers,' Cannon wrote in the 93-page ruling. Trump said some of the boxes the DOJ gave back will be in his future presidential library. 'They [boxes] are being brought down to Florida and will someday be part of the Trump Presidential Library. Justice finally won out. I did absolutely nothing wrong. This was merely an attack on a political opponent that, obviously, did not work well,' he said Friday on Truth Social. 'Justice in our Country will now be restored.'
USA Today
11-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Google officially changes Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America
Google has officially changed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its maps. Just before 6 p.m., Google made the announcement on X: "We've received a few questions about naming within Google Maps. We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources." Workers at the federal Board on Geographic Names have formally changed the name to the Gulf of America per one of President Donald Trump's first executive orders. The change doesn't affect what other countries call it, and Mexico's president has promised to ignore it and asked others to do the same. Secretary Doug Burgum posted on X on Monday: "It's official! Congratulations @POTUS on the Gulf of America! @Interior has implemented your instruction from the Executive Order on Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness. Another big win for President Trump's agenda to Make America Great Again." Trump on Sunday flew in Air Force 1 over the Gulf while attending the Super Bowl, and declared the day as the "first-ever Gulf of America Day." USA Today contributed to this article.
