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Russia Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Are US-Israel ‘special relations' about to end?
Last week, US President Donald Trump embarked on his first official overseas tour since taking office, choosing to visit three key Gulf nations – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This itinerary was both unexpected and, in many ways, unprecedented. Unlike his predecessors, who traditionally began their foreign policy engagements with visits to long-standing Western allies, Trump opted to prioritize America's Arab partners, deliberately bypassing Israel – Washington's principal strategic ally in the region. This marked the first time in decades that a sitting US president visiting the Middle East consciously excluded it from the agenda. This decision signaled a potential recalibration of Washington's priorities in the region. Relations between the Trump administration and the Israeli leadership, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were already strained in the early stages – largely due to Israel's growing intransigence on the Palestinian question and the increasing influence of far-right factions within the Israeli government. Faced with mounting frustration over Israel's hardline policies, the White House appeared to pivot toward a more pragmatic, less confrontational, and economically advantageous partnership with the Gulf monarchies. However, the rationale behind this shift extended beyond political calculation. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have long played a pivotal role in sustaining American influence in the Middle East – not only because of their strategic geography but also due to their substantial investments in the US economy and multi-billion-dollar arms contracts. For a business-minded president eager to showcase the profitability of foreign policy through economic deals, these nations represented ideal counterparts. The lavish receptions afforded to Trump during his Gulf tour might have been dismissed as mere pageantry were it not for their deeper symbolic resonance. The true significance of the visit lay in what it revealed about broader geopolitical currents: namely, the transformation of the Gulf monarchies from regional players into increasingly assertive global actors. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are no longer content with being perceived as passive participants in American-led regional frameworks. Instead, they are positioning themselves as independent centers of power in an emerging multipolar world order. Their growing international stature stems from several interrelated factors. First, these countries have embraced ambitious and forward-looking development strategies, investing heavily in infrastructure, clean energy transitions, technological innovation, and global finance. No longer simply hydrocarbon exporters, they are becoming hubs of digital transformation, international logistics, Islamic finance, and global policy discourse on issues ranging from security to sustainable development. Second, the Gulf states have pioneered a distinctive model of governance that blends traditionalism with modernization. While maintaining deep-rooted commitments to Islamic and tribal values, they have achieved remarkable progress in building diversified and globally competitive economies. This synthesis has not only enabled them to thrive amid intensifying global competition but, in some respects, to outpace certain Western nations grappling with internal divisions and economic stagnation. Equally noteworthy is the political resilience of these monarchies. Western narratives often portray them simplistically as 'absolute monarchies,' failing to appreciate the internal mechanisms of governance that underpin their stability. In reality, the political architecture of the Gulf is more accurately described as 'sheikhism' – a system rooted in consensus among tribal and familial elites, structured around a balance of obligations, reciprocal loyalties, and ongoing consultation. This model, which integrates Islamic principles such as shura (consultation) with practical statecraft, has proven remarkably adaptive and resilient. In this context, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar can no longer be viewed merely as privileged US allies or energy suppliers. They are emerging as autonomous actors in global politics – capable of forging regional alliances, shaping international agendas across energy, media, and technology, and mediating in global conflicts. Their evolving role reflects not dependence on external security guarantees, but the outcome of deliberate, long-term strategies to consolidate sovereignty, enhance prestige, and assert influence in the 21st century. President Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf states was far more than his first foreign trip as head of state. It was a bold, highly symbolic debut of a new US foreign economic doctrine rooted in pragmatism, transactionalism, and strategic capitalism. Unlike previous administrations, which typically foregrounded diplomacy, security alliances, and value-based partnerships, Trump approached this tour as a high-stakes business deal. His mindset was that of a dealmaker, not a traditional statesman. The objective was clear: to restore America's economic dominance by leveraging the vast wealth and strategic ambitions of the Middle East's richest monarchies. Trump's campaign slogan, 'Make America Great Again,' found tangible expression in this tour. His mission was to bring back jobs, reindustrialize key sectors, boost the US high-tech ecosystem, and enhance national competitiveness – all fueled by a surge in foreign direct investment. In this pursuit, the oil-rich, capital-heavy Gulf monarchies – endowed with massive sovereign wealth funds and seeking greater global visibility – emerged as ideal partners. In Saudi Arabia, Trump signed an unprecedented economic package worth over $600 billion, including the largest arms deal in US history – $142 billion covering missile defense systems, advanced aviation platforms, cybersecurity capabilities, and military-grade AI technologies. Equally significant was the launch of a new tech alliance: Saudi-based DataVolt committed $20 billion to build data centers and energy facilities in the US, while a consortium led by Nvidia, AMD, and Amazon Web Services will co-develop an AI innovation hub within the Kingdom. A $50 billion venture fund was also established to support US-based startups in renewable energy and cybersecurity. In Qatar, the results were even more staggering: agreements totaling $1.2 trillion, the largest single-country deal package in US diplomatic history. Central to this was Qatar Airways' order for 210 Boeing aircraft valued at $96 billion, making it the most lucrative deal ever for the American aerospace giant. Qatar also pledged tens of billions of dollars for joint ventures in quantum computing, smart energy networks, and STEM education programs for engineers and IT specialists in the US. In a provocative symbolic gesture, Qatar proposed gifting President Trump a custom-built Air Force One, sparking intense debate in the American media landscape. In the United Arab Emirates, new agreements totaling $200 billion were signed – in addition to a previously negotiated $1.4 trillion package. Key components included the construction of an aluminum plant in Oklahoma, expansion of oil and gas infrastructure with US firms, and a landmark $100 billion commitment to American companies specializing in artificial intelligence over the next three years. In total, Trump's Gulf tour yielded over $2 trillion in contracts and investment pledges – an economic windfall of historic proportions. But beyond the numbers, the trip marked a fundamental redefinition of American foreign policy: from projecting power through military force and ideological alignment, to securing influence through economic penetration and transactional partnerships. Trump unveiled a new image of the US – not as a global policeman, but as a global entrepreneur. A nation that negotiates not with declarations, but with data, contracts, and employment metrics. This new model resonated deeply with the Gulf monarchies themselves, which are undergoing profound transformations. Once reliant solely on oil exports, these states are rapidly evolving into tech-driven economies with ambitions to become global hubs of innovation, finance, and logistics. In Trump's America, they found not just a security guarantor, but a strategic co-architect of a post-oil economic order – one where capital, innovation, and mutual profit outweigh traditional diplomatic protocol and ideological rhetoric. Trump's message was unambiguous: the era of foreign policy as charity is over. What now matters are mutual returns, strategic alignments, and economic gains. The Gulf states, driven by their own visions of modernization and diversification, eagerly embraced this shift. Together, they reimagined international relations not as a sphere of obligations, but as a marketplace of of the most significant – albeit unofficial – outcomes of Donald Trump's Middle East tour could be discerned even before the journey began: the US President conspicuously bypassed Israel. This omission became all the more striking given that even Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who had initially planned a visit to Tel Aviv, abruptly cancelled his trip at the last moment. The message did not go unnoticed in either Washington or Jerusalem: nearly all observers interpreted the move as a clear sign of a cooling relationship between the US and Israel – more precisely, between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The rift between the two leaders appears less personal than strategic, rooted in diverging visions of the region's future. Tensions had been mounting for months. The first major flashpoint came when Trump unilaterally announced the withdrawal of American forces from operations against Yemen's Houthi rebels, citing the group's supposed commitment to halt attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. The decision, made without prior consultation with Israel – which continues to endure daily rocket fire from the Houthis – dealt a blow not only to diplomatic norms but also to the foundational trust between Israel and its closest ally. An even more sensitive issue has been the quiet resumption of US contacts with Iran. With Oman acting as mediator, Washington has been exploring the outlines of a possible new nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, Israel remains steadfast in its conviction that no negotiations with Tehran should occur until decisive military action is taken against its nuclear and military facilities – a show of force intended to compel concessions. Netanyahu failed to persuade Trump of this hardline approach, and the US president has increasingly charted his own, more flexible course. Tensions have also sharpened over the future of Syria. Israel refuses to recognize the country's new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, branding him a former al-Qaeda affiliate and a dangerous actor. Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory continue, the buffer zone in the Golan Heights remains under Israeli control, and the Druze population has formally been placed under Israeli protection. While Israel promotes the vision of a weak, decentralized Syria, Washington is embracing the opposite: al-Sharaa was invited to meet with Trump in Saudi Arabia, and following those talks, the US signaled its intent to lift sanctions on Damascus. Even more striking was the revelation that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE – previously restrained by US pressure – are now prepared to invest in Syria's reconstruction, viewing it as both a stabilizing opportunity and a chance to expand their regional influence. Israeli frustration has been further stoked by Washington's evolving stance on the Palestinian issue. Despite Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza, Trump has increasingly expressed a desire – even a demand – for a resolution to the conflict. His Gaza reconstruction plan, unveiled in February, sent shockwaves through Washington: it proposed the complete depopulation of Palestinians from the enclave and the transformation of the territory into a luxury international resort zone under US control. Not only was this radical proposal never coordinated with Israel, but it also raised fundamental questions about the future of the US-Israel alliance. To make matters more complex, credible reports have emerged that the US has been engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas, without informing Israel. The recent release of an American citizen, IDF soldier Idan Alexander, who was captured in October 2023, was reportedly achieved through these covert channels – of which the Israeli government only became aware through its own intelligence services. Against this backdrop, speculation is growing that the White House is seriously considering formally recognizing an independent Palestinian state. Such a move would not be a mere diplomatic gesture – it would reshape the strategic architecture of the Middle East. Should Washington proceed down this path, Israel could find itself in strategic isolation, while the center of regional gravity shifts toward Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Türkiye – countries with which Trump is building pragmatic, mutually beneficial, and business-driven relations. None of these states demand unconditional support from Washington, meddle in its internal politics, or leverage domestic crises for influence. More importantly, they offer Trump what he values most: investment, trade, strategic partnership based on reciprocal interest, and freedom from ideological constraints. Thus, a new geopolitical reality is taking shape before our eyes. In this emerging landscape, Donald Trump appears less inclined to view Israel as an indispensable ally and more drawn to politically agile, economically potent, and regionally assertive actors across the Arab world – and Türkiye. If rumors of Palestinian state recognition prove true, it will mark the end of the long-standing era of 'special relations' between the US and Israel and signal the dawn of a new chapter in American Middle East policy – one governed not by ideological loyalty, but by unambiguous political and economic rationality.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump news at a glance: Gulf deals in the spotlight as experts warn receipt of overseas gifts ‘unprecedented'
With Donald Trump's headline-making tour of the Gulf region now over, focus has now fallen on the deals made during the trip – for US companies, and for the president himself. Former White House lawyers, diplomatic protocol officers and foreign affairs experts have told the Guardian Donald Trump's receipt of overseas gifts and targeted investments are 'unprecedented' as the White House remakes US foreign policy under a pay-for-access code that eclipses past administrations. Meanwhile, the agreement struck by major US companies saw prominent executives negotiate their deals face-to-face with Gulf country leaders. Many of those agreements broke with the policies of Joe Biden's administration, which imposed strict controls on the sales of the US's most cutting-edge technology. The openness to foreign largesse was on full display this week as the US president was feted in the Gulf states during his first major diplomatic trip abroad this term, inking deals he claimed are worth trillions of dollars for the US economy. But quite often, the bottom line also has benefited Trump personally. His family's wealth has ballooned by more than $3bn, according to press estimates, and the reported benefits from cryptocurrencies and other investment deals such as plans for new Trump-branded properties may be far larger. Deals for billions more have been inked by business associates close to Trump, meaning that their political support for the White House can translate into lucrative contracts abroad. Some argue the message being sent by the White House is that American foreign policy is being sold to the highest bidder. Read the full story Styling himself the broker-in-chief, Trump brought along an entourage of dozens of CEOs to the Middle East, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk, Amazon's Andy Jassy, Palantir's Alex Karp and two dozen others. The deals stand to enrich the tech CEOs substantially by opening up new audiences for their products. These are the same men at the helm of AI development, and Trump's use of them as surrogates seems likely to propagate the American model of technological power in new places. Read the full story Donald Trump said that he will speak to both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to stop what he called the 'bloodbath' war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to a state-run Russian news agency that preparations were under way for a call. Trump's call with Putin will be followed by a separate conversation with Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, and Nato leaders as part of the US effort to end the war that has raged since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Read the full story Congressional Republicans are proposing an array of new fees on immigrants seeking to remain in the United States in a move advocates warn will create insurmountable financial barriers. Legislation moving through the GOP-controlled House of Representatives could require immigrants to pay potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars to seek asylum, care for a minor in the government's custody, or apply for humanitarian parole. Republican lawmakers have described the fees as necessary to offset the costs of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Read the full story As part of the latest Republican push in red states to promote ideologies sympathetic to Donald Trump, Oklahoma's new social studies curriculum will ask high school students to identify 'discrepancies' in the 2020 election results. US judges who have rebuked the Trump administration's harsh deportation agenda are facing verbal assaults from the president and his allies which seem to be spurring other dangerous threats against judges, legal experts and former judges say. Pedro Pascal has sharply criticised Donald Trump's attacks against artists. He urged creatives to 'keep telling the stories, keep expressing yourself and keep fighting for it'. Catching up? Here's what happened 16 May 2025.
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump news at a glance: Gulf deals in the spotlight as experts warn receipt of overseas gifts ‘unprecedented'
With Donald Trump's headline-making tour of the Gulf region now over, focus has now fallen on the deals made during the trip – for US companies, and for the president himself. Former White House lawyers, diplomatic protocol officers and foreign affairs experts have told the Guardian Donald Trump's receipt of overseas gifts and targeted investments are 'unprecedented' as the White House remakes US foreign policy under a pay-for-access code that eclipses past administrations. Meanwhile, the agreement struck by major US companies saw prominent executives negotiate their deals face-to-face with Gulf country leaders. Many of those agreements broke with the policies of Joe Biden's administration, which imposed strict controls on the sales of the US's most cutting-edge technology. The openness to foreign largesse was on full display this week as the US president was feted in the Gulf states during his first major diplomatic trip abroad this term, inking deals he claimed are worth trillions of dollars for the US economy. But quite often, the bottom line also has benefited Trump personally. His family's wealth has ballooned by more than $3bn, according to press estimates, and the reported benefits from cryptocurrencies and other investment deals such as plans for new Trump-branded properties may be far larger. Deals for billions more have been inked by business associates close to Trump, meaning that their political support for the White House can translate into lucrative contracts abroad. Some argue the message being sent by the White House is that American foreign policy is being sold to the highest bidder. Read the full story Styling himself the broker-in-chief, Trump brought along an entourage of dozens of CEOs to the Middle East, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk, Amazon's Andy Jassy, Palantir's Alex Karp and two dozen others. The deals stand to enrich the tech CEOs substantially by opening up new audiences for their products. These are the same men at the helm of AI development, and Trump's use of them as surrogates seems likely to propagate the American model of technological power in new places. Read the full story Donald Trump said that he will speak to both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to stop what he called the 'bloodbath' war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to a state-run Russian news agency that preparations were under way for a call. Trump's call with Putin will be followed by a separate conversation with Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, and Nato leaders as part of the US effort to end the war that has raged since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Read the full story Congressional Republicans are proposing an array of new fees on immigrants seeking to remain in the United States in a move advocates warn will create insurmountable financial barriers. Legislation moving through the GOP-controlled House of Representatives could require immigrants to pay potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars to seek asylum, care for a minor in the government's custody, or apply for humanitarian parole. Republican lawmakers have described the fees as necessary to offset the costs of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Read the full story As part of the latest Republican push in red states to promote ideologies sympathetic to Donald Trump, Oklahoma's new social studies curriculum will ask high school students to identify 'discrepancies' in the 2020 election results. US judges who have rebuked the Trump administration's harsh deportation agenda are facing verbal assaults from the president and his allies which seem to be spurring other dangerous threats against judges, legal experts and former judges say. Pedro Pascal has sharply criticised Donald Trump's attacks against artists. He urged creatives to 'keep telling the stories, keep expressing yourself and keep fighting for it'. Catching up? Here's what happened 16 May 2025.
Bloomberg
16-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump's Aerospace Deals Were Big on Numbers and Slim on Details
US President Donald Trump ended his tour of the Middle East's wealthiest countries touting new investments totaling a claimed $3.6 trillion — though upon closer inspection many of the deals appear inflated or recycled. Trump's four-day trip took him through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where he lauded the countries' deepening ties with the US and took credit for a flurry of announcements. Some were non-binding or lacked specifics, raising questions about their true scale.
Al Jazeera
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
What to make of Donald Trump's 'historic' tour of the Middle East
What to make of Donald Trump's 'historic' tour of the Middle East NewsFeed What to make of Donald Trump's 'historic' tour of the Middle East From multi-billion-dollar deals, defence ties, closer relations and diplomatic agreements, Donald Trump had a lot going on during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishara gives his take on Trump's tour.
