Latest news with #InvestmentDeals
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Trump's Gulf tour: Engineering a new regional order or managing crises?
President Donald Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar last week marked a pivotal moment in US Middle East policy and signaled a profound shift in the region's emerging political landscape. As his first foreign tour during his second term in office, the trip aimed to secure massive investment and defense deals, while proposing new approaches to the long-standing crises in Syria, Gaza and Yemen — anchored in a pragmatic vision in which influence and transactional gains are seen as pathways to stability, rather than regime change. For the US, the visit yielded major gains: more than $3.2 trillion in investment commitments from Gulf states, including one of the largest civilian aviation deals in history with Qatar, the expansion of Al Udeid Air Base and the solidification of the US' military presence in the Gulf. Trump's administration emphasized a deal-oriented approach, focusing on deterring Iran, enforcing ceasefires and engaging with emerging regional players — even controversial ones, such as Syria's new leadership under Ahmad Al-Sharaa. Saudi Arabia emerged as the central Arab powerbroker, orchestrating the historic meeting between Trump and Al-Sharaa that led to Washington lifting sanctions on Syria. Riyadh also secured record-breaking economic and defense deals and welcomed a de-escalation in Yemen that aligned with its goal of ending the prolonged conflict. The Kingdom asserted itself as the engine of a new regional order, capitalizing on Iran's declining influence. The US took a deal-oriented approach, focusing on deterring Iran, enforcing ceasefires and engaging with emerging regional players Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy The UAE reinforced its status as a technological and financial hub, pledging $1.4 trillion in US investments and benefiting from relaxed export restrictions on advanced artificial intelligence technologies. Abu Dhabi supported Washington's regional agenda while promoting its image as a beacon of tolerance and modernization. Qatar leveraged the visit to reaffirm its role as a strategic ally. It played a key role in Gaza ceasefire efforts and hostage mediation, sealed a massive aviation deal with Boeing and modernized Al Udeid Air Base. Politically, Qatar positioned itself as a trusted mediator among all parties, maintaining autonomy while aligning with the broader Gulf consensus. On the front of regional issues, Syria took center stage. The unanticipated meeting between Trump and Al-Sharaa marked a turning point: the US announced the lifting of sanctions on Damascus, signaling the end of the Assad era. Al-Sharaa, a former militant turned political leader, pledged to expel foreign fighters, unify Syria and pursue eventual normalization with Israel. This US-backed endorsement, facilitated by Saudi and Turkish support, redefined the Syrian file and sent shock waves through traditional alliances. In Gaza, no political breakthrough was achieved. Instead, the focus remained on a humanitarian ceasefire, prisoner swaps and rebuilding efforts, led by Qatar and Egypt. Trump's controversial proposals for 'resettling' Gaza's population in wealthy Arab countries were flatly rejected by the Gulf states, which instead advocated for reconstruction within Gaza and under Palestinian Authority oversight — though without a clear political horizon. Trump's overtures to Arab capitals sent a clear message: US interests in the region may no longer be tied solely to Israel's preferences Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy The Iran file reflected a delicate balance: Trump publicly reinforced sanctions while quietly reopening diplomatic channels, notably through Oman, to explore a potential nuclear agreement. A 'shadow ceasefire' was reached in Yemen, with the US pausing airstrikes on the Houthis in exchange for an end to Red Sea attacks. This convergence of Yemen and Iran strategies underscored a mutual desire to avoid full-scale conflict without conceding strategic ground. Meanwhile, the visit accelerated the formation of a new regional order, anchored by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Turkiye, with US backing. This emerging coalition has effectively sidelined Iran and — more surprisingly — Israel. Tel Aviv was notably absent from all meetings and Trump's overtures to Arab capitals without coordinating with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a clear message: US interests in the region may no longer be tied solely to Israel's preferences. Iran, on the other hand, is facing strategic retreat, having lost ground in Syria, Yemen and Gaza. While engaging in backchannel diplomacy, Tehran remains under pressure to show flexibility on its nuclear and regional policies — without yet receiving guarantees on sanctions relief. Trump's Gulf tour delivered immediate economic and diplomatic dividends but fell short of resolving deep-rooted conflicts. Syria may be on a new path under Al-Sharaa and Yemen has a fragile ceasefire, but the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains politically stagnant. What has emerged is a recalibrated Middle East architecture shaped by Gulf assertiveness, strategic realignments and American deal-making. However, the broader question remains: Are these arrangements the foundation of lasting peace or merely a sophisticated exercise in crisis management?
Fox News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Trump's Middle East 'bromance' and Qatar jet controversy lampooned on SNL finale
"Saturday Night Live" lampooned President Donald Trump's recent Middle East trip in its season finale, trivializing what the administration billed as a major foreign policy reset. The cold open featured James Austin Johnson as an exaggerated Trump alongside a fictionalized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The sketch suggested an unlikely bromance. "We're together now, kidding, of course, but we are vibing," Johnson's Trump quipped, as though describing a new romance. "I, of course, am a big fan of everything that Saudi Arabia has to offer, from the oil to the money. To – end of list," he added. In reality, Trump returned to Washington touting three major investment deals worth billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, commitments he said would bolster the U.S. economy. SNL's Trump implied his motives were not so patriotic. "I didn't make this trip for myself. I want to make that clear. I did this for the American people. And, in many ways, myself, my personal enrichment. I did that too. I did very well on this trip," he bragged. The show also capitalized on the controversy over a gifted $400 million jet from Qatar to the United States, a matter now under House Democrats' scrutiny. "The Qataris gave me a $400 million plane. Can you believe that? And people said that was some sort of bribe," the fake president deadpanned. "Not true, not true, because they haven't asked for anything in return. Well, not yet. Alright, so it's a pre-bribe." The real Trump defended accepting the jet in an interview Friday with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier, calling it "a good deal" and noting delays in Boeing's new Air Force One project. SNL then mocked Boeing's recent safety scares and the country's aging air-traffic-control system. Johnson's Trump complained that he preferred the Qatari jet over an American plane. "Have you seen what's happening with our planes? The radar is down and the screen is blank -- Newark," he said, referring to to at least three equipment outages at Newark Liberty International in recent weeks. A second segment in the episode, led by host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Bad Bunny, also made light of Newark's radar failures, turning the issue into a comedic rap about a nerve-wracking landing and pilots being cut off from the control tower. The opening Trump sketch wound down with the show's typical jabs at the president and his continued daily media presence. "Since it's a finale, that means after tonight, you won't be seeing me here for a while. Well, not the fake, fun version of me that makes you smile. The real one will still be omnipresent. You can't escape me, right? I'm everywhere." Before signing off for its summer hiatus, the fictionalized version of Trump quipped, "See you again in the fall, if we still have a country."
Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
What's Trump really up to in the Middle East? Look to his new jet
President Trump has returned from his Middle East tour after a week glad-handing sheikhs, signing $2 trillion worth of investment deals and dancing to the YMCA in Riyadh. These festivities were accompanied by major policy shifts — from lifting all sanctions on Syria to Trump declaring in a speech that the days of 'western interventionalists flying in with lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs' are over. Yet here in Washington, all anyone can really talk about is the $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet the Qataris have offered the Americans. 'Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country,' Trump declared on Truth Social as he got on with his tour. He wants it to
LBCI
16-05-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Trump announces $200 billion in deals during UAE visit, AI agreement signed
President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged to strengthen U.S. ties to the United Arab Emirates and announced deals with the Gulf state totaling over $200 billion and the two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence. After Trump's meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the White House said he announced deals that included a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 Boeing 787 and 777x aircraft powered by engines made by GE Aerospace. The U.S. Commerce Department said the two countries also agreed to establish a "U.S.-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership" framework and Trump and Sheikh Mohamed attended the unveiling of a new 5GW AI campus, which would be the largest outside the United States. Reuters
Bloomberg
15-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
With Deals and Diplomacy, President Trump Aims to Reshape the Middle East
By and David Gura Save Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take daily podcast today. President Trump is wrapping a whirlwind trip to the Middle East — complete with a flurry of proposed investment deals, controversial gifts and a major shift in US-Syria policy.
