Latest news with #HasanAlhasan
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Gulf states fear escalation as U.S. Iran strikes rattle region
Article content (Bloomberg) — Iran's Arab neighbors urged restraint and warned of potentially devastating implications for the region after US strikes on Tehran's nuclear program raised the prospects for all-out war in the Middle East. Article content In statements on Sunday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of Iran's sovereignty, Qatar warned it would have 'disastrous consequences,' and Oman called it 'illegal.' Those countries, and the United Arab Emirates, have spent months trying to use their geopolitical and economic heft to bolster nuclear talks between the Americans and Iran. Article content Article content Article content They spent the week since Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Tehran trying to keep the US from directly intervening. Saturday night's bombings have shown just how much they are hostage to forces completely outside their control. Article content Article content 'I don't think the Arab Gulf states have much control over the course of events at this stage,' said Hasan Alhasan, Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy at IISS in Manama, Bahrain. 'There is no guarantee that any of the warring parties, Iran, Israel or the US, will take Gulf interests into account.' Article content In a press conference on Sunday, Iran's foreign minister said he'd spoken with counterparts across the region the day before who were 'worried about a possible attack by the United States.' Article content 'Almost all of them are very much concerned and interested to play a role to end this aggression by Israel,' Abbas Araghchi said. Article content Article content Within the region, there was evidence of growing disquiet, with people stockpiling supplies in the UAE and Kuwait. Meanwhile, British Airways halted flights to Dubai and Doha, two of the region's economic centers. Article content It's a stark contrast from just over a month ago when US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on his first scheduled foreign trip since returning to office. There, he touted the potential for trillions of dollars-worth of trade and investments between the US and the Gulf. Article content Leaders are 'forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos,' Trump said in the Saudi capital, 'where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence. We don't want that.' Article content The Gulf Arab states have sought to leverage their natural resources and trillion-dollar sovereign wealth funds to diversify their economies and emerge as significant geopolitical players. They've acted as key go-betweens during the US-Iran nuclear talks, urging a deal for the sake of regional stability and economic prosperity.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Gulf States Fear Escalation as US Iran Strikes Rattle Region
Iran's Arab neighbors urged restraint and warned of potentially devastating implications for the region after US strikes on Tehran's nuclear program raised the prospects for all-out war in the Middle East. In statements on Sunday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of Iran's sovereignty, Qatar warned it would have 'disastrous consequences,' and Oman called it 'illegal.' Those countries, and the United Arab Emirates, have spent months trying to use their geopolitical and economic heft to bolster nuclear talks between the Americans and Iran. They spent the week since Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Tehran trying to keep the US from directly intervening. Saturday night's bombings have shown just how much they are hostage to forces completely outside their control. 'I don't think the Arab Gulf states have much control over the course of events at this stage,' said Hasan Alhasan, Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy at IISS in Manama, Bahrain. 'There is no guarantee that any of the warring parties, Iran, Israel or the US, will take Gulf interests into account.' In a press conference on Sunday, Iran's foreign minister said he'd spoken with counterparts across the region the day before who were 'worried about a possible attack by the United States.' 'Almost all of them are very much concerned and interested to play a role to end this aggression by Israel,' Abbas Araghchi said. Within the region, there was evidence of growing disquiet, with people stockpiling supplies in the UAE and Kuwait. Meanwhile, British Airways halted flights to Dubai and Doha, two of the region's economic centers. It's a stark contrast from just over a month ago when US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on his first scheduled foreign trip since returning to office. There, he touted the potential for trillions of dollars-worth of trade and investments between the US and the Gulf. Leaders are 'forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos,' Trump said in the Saudi capital, 'where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence. We don't want that.' The Gulf Arab states have sought to leverage their natural resources and trillion-dollar sovereign wealth funds to diversify their economies and emerge as significant geopolitical players. They've acted as key go-betweens during the US-Iran nuclear talks, urging a deal for the sake of regional stability and economic prosperity. But none of the three principle players — Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — have appeared amenable to Gulf attempts at mediation in recent weeks. Israel and Iran exchanged volleys of missiles for days on end as Trump publicly mulled the possibility of US involvement. He ultimately went ahead with military action despite Gulf concerns. Still, Gulf officials say they have little choice but to continue with diplomacy as they are potential front-line collateral damage in any broader conflict. The countries are home to tens of thousands of US troops and key military bases, worry about any impact on their oil infrastructure and fear possible radiation leaks from their neighbor's nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency has long warned against strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities for exactly that reason. Other worries include Iranian strikes or proxy attacks on US interests in the Gulf — the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Sunday morning condemned the American strikes and reiterated their readiness to attack US vessels and warships in the Red Sea. If the Islamic Republic takes the extreme step of shutting the Strait of Hormuz — which handles around a quarter of the world's oil trade — it could send crude prices soaring to $130 a barrel, according to Bloomberg Economics. 'The Arab Gulf states' central challenge is to prevent regional escalation from engulfing their territories while maintaining strategic ties with the US,' said Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, head of the Emirates Policy Center, an Abu Dhabi-based think tank. 'They will likely pursue a policy of pragmatic restraint, intensified defense readiness, and diplomatic balancing to contain the fallout.' Gulf states, while quietly cheering anything that sets back Iran's nuclear program, also continue to fear the prospect of a power vacuum in Tehran and the chaos regime change could bring, according to officials in the region who insisted on anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The terrorism and sectarian warfare that followed the 2003 Iraq War and the Arab Spring loom large. Decisions taken in Tehran in the coming hours will be key. Iran's foreign minister Araghchi called the US move 'outrageous,' adding that 'Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' Still, Iran's leaders will need to weigh the option of retaliation against US threats of further attacks. 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror,' Trump said in a social media post. 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater — and a lot easier.' The hope in Gulf capitals is that those warnings will prevent the kind of retaliation that could further threaten Gulf security. 'For everyone in the region, it is now time to wait with baited breath and hope that cooler heads prevail in Tehran and Washington now that this major escalation has taken place,' said Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at risk consultancy Rane Network. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gulf States Fear Escalation as US Iran Strikes Rattle Region
(Bloomberg) -- Iran's Arab neighbors urged restraint and warned of potentially devastating implications for the region after US strikes on Tehran's nuclear program raised the prospects for all-out war in the Middle East. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown In statements on Sunday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of Iran's sovereignty, Qatar warned it would have 'disastrous consequences,' and Oman called it 'illegal.' Those countries, and the United Arab Emirates, have spent months trying to use their geopolitical and economic heft to bolster nuclear talks between the Americans and Iran. They spent the week since Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Tehran trying to keep the US from directly intervening. Saturday night's bombings have shown just how much they are hostage to forces completely outside their control. 'I don't think the Arab Gulf states have much control over the course of events at this stage,' said Hasan Alhasan, Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy at IISS in Manama, Bahrain. 'There is no guarantee that any of the warring parties, Iran, Israel or the US, will take Gulf interests into account.' In a press conference on Sunday, Iran's foreign minister said he'd spoken with counterparts across the region the day before who were 'worried about a possible attack by the United States.' 'Almost all of them are very much concerned and interested to play a role to end this aggression by Israel,' Abbas Araghchi said. Within the region, there was evidence of growing disquiet, with people stockpiling supplies in the UAE and Kuwait. Meanwhile, British Airways halted flights to Dubai and Doha, two of the region's economic centers. It's a stark contrast from just over a month ago when US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on his first scheduled foreign trip since returning to office. There, he touted the potential for trillions of dollars-worth of trade and investments between the US and the Gulf. Leaders are 'forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos,' Trump said in the Saudi capital, 'where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence. We don't want that.' Gulf States Sidelined The Gulf Arab states have sought to leverage their natural resources and trillion-dollar sovereign wealth funds to diversify their economies and emerge as significant geopolitical players. They've acted as key go-betweens during the US-Iran nuclear talks, urging a deal for the sake of regional stability and economic prosperity. But none of the three principle players — Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — have appeared amenable to Gulf attempts at mediation in recent weeks. Israel and Iran exchanged volleys of missiles for days on end as Trump publicly mulled the possibility of US involvement. He ultimately went ahead with military action despite Gulf concerns. Still, Gulf officials say they have little choice but to continue with diplomacy as they are potential front-line collateral damage in any broader conflict. The countries are home to tens of thousands of US troops and key military bases, worry about any impact on their oil infrastructure and fear possible radiation leaks from their neighbor's nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency has long warned against strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities for exactly that reason. Other worries include Iranian strikes or proxy attacks on US interests in the Gulf — the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Sunday morning condemned the American strikes and reiterated their readiness to attack US vessels and warships in the Red Sea. If the Islamic Republic takes the extreme step of shutting the Strait of Hormuz — which handles around a quarter of the world's oil trade — it could send crude prices soaring to $130 a barrel, according to Bloomberg Economics. 'The Arab Gulf states' central challenge is to prevent regional escalation from engulfing their territories while maintaining strategic ties with the US,' said Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, head of the Emirates Policy Center, an Abu Dhabi-based think tank. 'They will likely pursue a policy of pragmatic restraint, intensified defense readiness, and diplomatic balancing to contain the fallout.' Gulf states, while quietly cheering anything that sets back Iran's nuclear program, also continue to fear the prospect of a power vacuum in Tehran and the chaos regime change could bring, according to officials in the region who insisted on anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The terrorism and sectarian warfare that followed the 2003 Iraq War and the Arab Spring loom large. Decisions taken in Tehran in the coming hours will be key. Iran's foreign minister Araghchi called the US move 'outrageous,' adding that 'Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.' Still, Iran's leaders will need to weigh the option of retaliation against US threats of further attacks. 'Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror,' Trump said in a social media post. 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater — and a lot easier.' The hope in Gulf capitals is that those warnings will prevent the kind of retaliation that could further threaten Gulf security. 'For everyone in the region, it is now time to wait with baited breath and hope that cooler heads prevail in Tehran and Washington now that this major escalation has taken place,' said Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at risk consultancy Rane Network. Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump is visiting three of the world's richest nations. Here's what's on their wish list
Three energy-rich Gulf Arab nations are racing to turn their influence over Donald Trump into tangible gains with the president set to visit next week. They have built personal ties with the president and collectively pledged trillions in US investments while casting themselves as key intermediaries in conflicts Trump wants to resolve, from Gaza to Ukraine and Iran. Now, they're being rewarded with the privilege of hosting Trump's first state visit of his second term. The US president is set to land in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, followed by visits to Qatar and then the United Arab Emirates that stretch till May 16. Given Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy, the three states have much to offer 'In Trump's book, the Gulf states tick all the right boxes,' Hasan Alhasan, senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain, told CNN. They 'pledge to invest trillions in the US economy and spend colossal amounts on US weapons systems,' he said. Behind this carefully crafted strategy of wooing Trump is a desire from Gulf states to solidify and formalize their positions as the US' indispensable security and economic partners, and extract as much benefit for themselves as they can. US-Gulf relations have improved significantly since Trump returned to office. Frustrated at the perceived lack of US interest in their needs under the Biden administration, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had sought to diversify their military, technological and economic ties. With Trump in office, they see what one Gulf official called 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for to achieve his country's objectives. From their perspective, now is the time to cement ties with Washington, and even 'secure greater privileges in their relationship with the world's most powerful nation,' Ebtesam AlKetbi, founder and president of the Emirates Policy Center think tank in Abu Dhabi, said. Each of the three nations Trump is visiting has its own list of priorities. Here's what they want from the US and how they're going about achieving it. 'Security, security and security' is what Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states seek most from Trump's visit, said Ali Shihabi, an author and commentator on politics and economics of Saudi Arabia. 'Gulf States are looking for reassurance of the US security commitment to the Gulf's stability,' Shihabi told CNN. 'Trump has many priorities and has been known to lose interest quickly… and they want to keep him engaged.' Last year, the US and Saudi Arabia came close to finalizing a landmark defense and trade pact – but the deal stalled over Saudi insistence that Israel commit to a path toward Palestinian statehood. Firas Maksad, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group, told CNN's Becky Anderson that Trump is likely to move ahead with major deals regardless of normalization, which he said is 'dead.' Riyadh is also seeking US cooperation to develop a civil nuclear program, but that has been held over its insistence on enriching uranium domestically – raising concerns in the US and Israel over nuclear weapons proliferation. Uranium, when enriched to high levels, can be used to produce nuclear weapons. White House backing for a Saudi nuclear program could see American firms win lucrative contracts. Riyadh appears to be framing its relationship with the US as a win-win. In March, Trump said he'd go to Saudi Arabia if it invests $1 trillion in the US. 'They've agreed to do that, so I'm going to be going there,' he said. While Saudi Arabia didn't confirm that figure, it announced plans in January to expand trade and investment with the US by $600 billion over four years, with potential for more. But for Riyadh to diversify away from oil, it still needs to sell oil – at a healthy profit – to fund that transition. Recent price drops, driven in part by Trump's tariffs, threaten to undermine those ambitions. Trump has made clear he wants oil prices lower, putting him at odds with Saudi Arabia's need for high revenues to finance its economic transformation. Perhaps more than any other Gulf state, the UAE sees investment as central to its strategy for deepening ties with the US and securing returns – and it has money to back it up. Among the world's richest countries per capita, it has pledged trillions in US investments. Abu Dhabi has even branded itself 'the capital of capital.' 'Expanding trade and investment is a way to reinforce this strategic partnership,' AlKetbi said. 'The US remains a critical security guarantor for the Gulf region, while also offering a dynamic economy full of opportunities and capabilities that align with the long-term Gulf development plans.' In March, the UAE announced a $1.4 trillion investment plan over 10 years focused on AI, semiconductors, manufacturing, and energy. Its existing US investments already total $1 trillion, according to its embassy in Washington. 'The UAE sees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a significant contributor in AI and advanced technology,' Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told CNN. 'The commitment to invest $1.4 trillion… aligns with the UAE's goal to diversify its economy away from its over reliance on hydrocarbons to ensure prosperity for the country in the future.' But it won't be easy for Abu Dhabi to achieve its stated goal of becoming a global leader in AI by 2031 without US microchips. During the final days of former President Joe Biden's administration, the US tightened curbs on AI exports to keep advanced technology out of the hands of foreign adversaries like China, which were meant to take effect on May 15. The UAE has been one of the countries facing restrictions and may expect them to be lifted during Trump's trip. On Thursday, the US announced that Trump will rescind a set of the Biden-era curbs. Qatar is the Gulf Arab nation with the most formalized security ties with the US. It hosts the biggest US military installation in the Middle East, which the State Department describes as 'indispensable' for US military operations in the region. Last year, the US quietly reached an agreement that extends its military presence at the sprawling base in Qatar for another 10 years. It also amended a 1992 defense cooperation agreement with the US, which is meant to further strengthen their security partnership. In 2022, the Biden administration also designated Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally, a title granted to close friends that have strategic working relationships with the US military. Qatar has been a key mediator in a number of conflicts – from the war in Gaza to Afghanistan. Experts say it is part of an effort to remain relevant in the eyes of Washington. 'The Gulf states view conflict mediation as a source of influence and prestige,' Alhasan told CNN. 'They have managed to use their role as mediators to position themselves as indispensable partners for Trump's political agenda.' Doha also maintains close ties with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has been on a quest to relieve his country of years-long sanctions by the West. Syria is expected to be a key issue that Qatar will raise with Trump when he visits, an official with knowledge of the matter told CNN Thursday. Doha is pushing the Trump administration to lift sanctions on Syria under the Caesar Act, the official said, adding that Qatar is wary about providing any financial support to Syria without Washington's blessing. Trump's visit is ultimately about what he can get out of the three Gulf states, experts said, adding that each of the three nations is anticipating a set of new deals that will benefit both parties. 'He's coming here because he believes it is in the interest of the US economy, perhaps his interest and those around him, to have those deals here with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar,' Maksad said. 'So expect big announcements.' CNN's Becky Anderson, Salma Arafa and Tala Alrajjal contributed reporting.
CNN
11-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Trump is visiting three of the world's richest nations. Here's what's on their wish list
Three energy-rich Gulf Arab nations are racing to turn their influence over Donald Trump into tangible gains with the president set to visit next week. They have built personal ties with the president and collectively pledged trillions in US investments while casting themselves as key intermediaries in conflicts Trump wants to resolve, from Gaza to Ukraine and Iran. Now, they're being rewarded with the privilege of hosting Trump's first state visit of his second term. The US president is set to land in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, followed by visits to Qatar and then the United Arab Emirates that stretch till May 16. Given Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy, the three states have much to offer Ahead of Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, analyst Firas Maksad looks at the what the U.S. president may accomplish on his trip, and tells Becky Anderson why he thinks the prospect of Saudi-Israeli normalization is dead. 'In Trump's book, the Gulf states tick all the right boxes,' Hasan Alhasan, senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain, told CNN. They 'pledge to invest trillions in the US economy and spend colossal amounts on US weapons systems,' he said. Behind this carefully crafted strategy of wooing Trump is a desire from Gulf states to solidify and formalize their positions as the US' indispensable security and economic partners, and extract as much benefit for themselves as they can. US-Gulf relations have improved significantly since Trump returned to office. Frustrated at the perceived lack of US interest in their needs under the Biden administration, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had sought to diversify their military, technological and economic ties. With Trump in office, they see what one Gulf official called 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for to achieve his country's objectives. From their perspective, now is the time to cement ties with Washington, and even 'secure greater privileges in their relationship with the world's most powerful nation,' Ebtesam AlKetbi, founder and president of the Emirates Policy Center think tank in Abu Dhabi, said. Each of the three nations Trump is visiting has its own list of priorities. Here's what they want from the US and how they're going about achieving it. 'Security, security and security' is what Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states seek most from Trump's visit, said Ali Shihabi, an author and commentator on politics and economics of Saudi Arabia. 'Gulf States are looking for reassurance of the US security commitment to the Gulf's stability,' Shihabi told CNN. 'Trump has many priorities and has been known to lose interest quickly… and they want to keep him engaged.' Last year, the US and Saudi Arabia came close to finalizing a landmark defense and trade pact – but the deal stalled over Saudi insistence that Israel commit to a path toward Palestinian statehood. Firas Maksad, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group, told CNN's Becky Anderson that Trump is likely to move ahead with major deals regardless of normalization, which he said is 'dead.' Riyadh is also seeking US cooperation to develop a civil nuclear program, but that has been held over its insistence on enriching uranium domestically – raising concerns in the US and Israel over nuclear weapons proliferation. Uranium, when enriched to high levels, can be used to produce nuclear weapons. White House backing for a Saudi nuclear program could see American firms win lucrative contracts. Riyadh appears to be framing its relationship with the US as a win-win. In March, Trump said he'd go to Saudi Arabia if it invests $1 trillion in the US. 'They've agreed to do that, so I'm going to be going there,' he said. While Saudi Arabia didn't confirm that figure, it announced plans in January to expand trade and investment with the US by $600 billion over four years, with potential for more. But for Riyadh to diversify away from oil, it still needs to sell oil – at a healthy profit – to fund that transition. Recent price drops, driven in part by Trump's tariffs, threaten to undermine those ambitions. Trump has made clear he wants oil prices lower, putting him at odds with Saudi Arabia's need for high revenues to finance its economic transformation. Perhaps more than any other Gulf state, the UAE sees investment as central to its strategy for deepening ties with the US and securing returns – and it has money to back it up. Among the world's richest countries per capita, it has pledged trillions in US investments. Abu Dhabi has even branded itself 'the capital of capital.' 'Expanding trade and investment is a way to reinforce this strategic partnership,' AlKetbi said. 'The US remains a critical security guarantor for the Gulf region, while also offering a dynamic economy full of opportunities and capabilities that align with the long-term Gulf development plans.' In March, the UAE announced a $1.4 trillion investment plan over 10 years focused on AI, semiconductors, manufacturing, and energy. Its existing US investments already total $1 trillion, according to its embassy in Washington. 'The UAE sees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a significant contributor in AI and advanced technology,' Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told CNN. 'The commitment to invest $1.4 trillion… aligns with the UAE's goal to diversify its economy away from its over reliance on hydrocarbons to ensure prosperity for the country in the future.' But it won't be easy for Abu Dhabi to achieve its stated goal of becoming a global leader in AI by 2031 without US microchips. During the final days of former President Joe Biden's administration, the US tightened curbs on AI exports to keep advanced technology out of the hands of foreign adversaries like China, which were meant to take effect on May 15. The UAE has been one of the countries facing restrictions and may expect them to be lifted during Trump's trip. On Thursday, the US announced that Trump will rescind a set of the Biden-era curbs. Qatar is the Gulf Arab nation with the most formalized security ties with the US. It hosts the biggest US military installation in the Middle East, which the State Department describes as 'indispensable' for US military operations in the region. Last year, the US quietly reached an agreement that extends its military presence at the sprawling base in Qatar for another 10 years. It also amended a 1992 defense cooperation agreement with the US, which is meant to further strengthen their security partnership. In 2022, the Biden administration also designated Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally, a title granted to close friends that have strategic working relationships with the US military. Qatar has been a key mediator in a number of conflicts – from the war in Gaza to Afghanistan. Experts say it is part of an effort to remain relevant in the eyes of Washington. 'The Gulf states view conflict mediation as a source of influence and prestige,' Alhasan told CNN. 'They have managed to use their role as mediators to position themselves as indispensable partners for Trump's political agenda.' Doha also maintains close ties with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has been on a quest to relieve his country of years-long sanctions by the West. Syria is expected to be a key issue that Qatar will raise with Trump when he visits, an official with knowledge of the matter told CNN Thursday. Doha is pushing the Trump administration to lift sanctions on Syria under the Caesar Act, the official said, adding that Qatar is wary about providing any financial support to Syria without Washington's blessing. Trump's visit is ultimately about what he can get out of the three Gulf states, experts said, adding that each of the three nations is anticipating a set of new deals that will benefit both parties. 'He's coming here because he believes it is in the interest of the US economy, perhaps his interest and those around him, to have those deals here with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar,' Maksad said. 'So expect big announcements.' CNN's Becky Anderson, Salma Arafa and Tala Alrajjal contributed reporting.
