Trump Gives "Gift" to Arabs: An Opportunity "Once in a Lifetime" Today 11:59 Author: Viacheslav Mikhailov [Image: https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/dab45d0c3e394f12a7baf58c4126ac38~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1747652431&x-signature=bg6bZUHbTpBMp1msjx0uAs1wE7o%3D] On May 20, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia. According to CNN's report on May 12, U.S. President Donald Trump is about to embark on a Middle Eastern tour next Tuesday. This trip will cover three energy-rich Gulf Arab countries that hope to gain tangible benefits from their influence over the current White House occupant. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have established strong personal ties with this Republican president and expressed interest in investing $3 trillion in the United States, while acting as key mediators in resolving conflicts that Trump intends to address, ranging from the Gaza Strip and Iran issues to the Ukraine issue. Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are essentially being rewarded for Trump's intention to visit them during his second term. He will arrive in Saudi Arabia on May 13, then head to Qatar, and conclude his regional visit by visiting the UAE on May 13. Trump's itinerary does not include Israel, the closest military-political ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. Earlier, some seemingly reliable reports in Western media suggested that relations between this American leader and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had severely deteriorated due to Netanyahu's "extreme obstinacy" in mediating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Iranian nuclear program. The situation had reached such a point that some Washington commentators speculated, based on information from "well-informed sources," that during his visit to the Persian Gulf Arab monarchies, the U.S. president might announce the creation of a Palestinian state without Hamas. At the same time, there are reports that Trump has prepared another "gift" for his Middle Eastern partners: renaming the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf." Tehran immediately warned that such a move would "anger all strata and political beliefs in Iranian society and provoke dissatisfaction worldwide." Earlier this year, Trump signed an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico, and now users of Google Maps in the U.S. see it labeled as the "American Gulf." Hassan Al-Hassan, a senior researcher at the Bahrain International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated: "The Persian Gulf states meet all the necessary standards in Trump's eyes. They are committed to investing $3 trillion in the U.S. economy and spending large sums on purchasing U.S. weapons systems." Behind Trump's carefully planned strategy lies the desire of the Gulf Arab states to institutionalize their position as indispensable partners to the U.S. in the security domain and transform close military-political ties into economic benefits for themselves. Monica Malik, chief economist at the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, said in an interview with CNBC last Friday: "We expect many announcements. And I believe these announcements will cover a wide range of areas." She also mentioned that Trump's cancellation of the 10% tariffs on aluminum and steel is beneficial to the Gulf Arab states, as some of these countries export these metals to the U.S. Since Trump returned to the White House, relations between Washington and the capitals of the Arab monarchies have significantly improved. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were disappointed by the insufficient attention given to their needs by the Joe Biden administration. They have been trying to diversify their military, technological, and economic ties. After Trump regained power, they saw it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Ebtisam Al-Ketbi, founder and chairman of the UAE Policy Analysis Center, pointed out that from the perspectives of Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, now is the best time to strengthen ties with Washington and "ensure significant privileges in their relationship with the world's most powerful nation." These three countries that Trump is about to visit each have their own priority lists, but almost all prioritize enhancing their security protection levels amidst the extremely unstable global situation. Ali Shihabi, a Saudi political observer, said: "Security, security, (emphasizing again) security – this is the greatest expectation of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states regarding Trump's visit." He said in an interview with CNN: "The Arab monarchies hope for confirmation of America's commitment to the security and stability of the Persian Gulf. Trump has many priorities, and it is well known that he easily loses interest... and these countries hope he can continuously focus on (their issues)." Last year, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia nearly reached a landmark defense and trade agreement, but the deal was hindered because Saudi Arabia insisted that Israel should take responsibility for establishing a Palestinian state. Firas Maksad, managing director of Eurasia Group responsible for Middle Eastern and North African affairs, speculated that Trump is likely to continue major agreements without being affected by the normalization of Palestinian-Israeli relations, which he described as "lifeless." Riyadh also hopes to cooperate with the U.S. on peaceful nuclear programs, but this matter has stalled due to Saudi insistence on uranium enrichment domestically. This has raised concerns among the U.S. and Israel about the potential for nuclear proliferation in the region. In any case, the White House's support for Saudi Arabia's "peaceful atomic" plan may bring lucrative contracts for American companies. Trump, who is committed to maintaining U.S. commercial interests on the international stage, is unlikely to miss this opportunity. Saudi Arabia has always sought to demonstrate its mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S., and currently holds the initiative. In March, Trump said that if Saudi Arabia invests $1 trillion in the U.S. economy, he would visit Saudi Arabia. He then announced: "They agreed to do so, so I intend to go to Saudi Arabia." Although Saudi Arabia has not publicly confirmed this massive "investment," Saudi Arabia announced in January plans to expand trade and investment with the U.S. to $600 billion over the next four years, with the possibility of further increasing investments in the world's largest economy. However, to achieve "diversification" and reduce traditional reliance on oil exports, Riyadh still needs to sell this strategic energy resource at sufficient profit margins to fund its claimed economic transformation. Meanwhile, Trump's tariff policies have caused oil prices to fall to some extent, which may undermine Saudi Arabia's ambitions. The U.S. leader previously made it clear that he is committed to lowering oil prices in global markets. This puts him at odds with Saudi Arabia's need for high revenue to fund its economic transformation. In this context, the UAE may view investment as a more critical strategic core element than other Arab countries in the Persian Gulf for deepening ties with the U.S. and ensuring profitability. Moreover, they have the funds to practically support this strategy. Abu Dhabi calls itself the "capital city" and pledges record-breaking investments in the economies of its overseas allies. Ebtisam Al-Ketbi pointed out: "Expanding trade and investment is one way to strengthen this strategic partnership. The U.S. remains the most important security guarantor in the region and provides a dynamic economy full of opportunities and capabilities, which aligns with the long-term development plans of the Persian Gulf." In March this year, the UAE announced a plan to invest $1.4 trillion over the next decade, with investment directions including projects to create artificial intelligence (AI) and other high-tech products (such as semiconductors), developing industrial production, and energy projects. According to the UAE Embassy in Washington, the UAE's current investment in the U.S. has exceeded $1 trillion. Anwar Gargash, foreign policy advisor to the UAE president, said: "The UAE sees a unique opportunity to become a significant player in the global market for artificial intelligence and frontier technologies. The commitment to invest $1.4 trillion aligns with the UAE's goal of economic diversification and moving away from excessive dependence on hydrocarbons to ensure national prosperity." However, without chips produced in the U.S., Abu Dhabi will find it difficult to achieve its stated goal of becoming a world leader in AI by 2031. Recently, the former Biden administration strengthened restrictions on AI exports to prevent cutting-edge technology from falling into the hands of geopolitical rivals (mainly relevant countries). These measures will take effect on May 15. The UAE is one of the countries severely affected by these restrictions, and they may expect these restrictions to be lifted during Trump's visit. Prior to Trump's Middle Eastern tour, Washington announced that Trump will cancel some of the restrictions implemented during Biden's administration. Clearly, the White House owner follows the principle of "you help me, I help you" when dealing with Arab monarchies. Renaming the Persian Gulf and other "gifts" all have their value, and the Arab states in the region clearly prepare to pay for them through substantial investments in the U.S. economy. After all, their primary military products come from the U.S., and without these military products, their desired goal of better protecting themselves cannot be achieved. It is worth mentioning Qatar, which is the third and final destination of Trump's upcoming Middle Eastern tour. This Gulf Arab monarchy has the most formal security ties with the U.S. The largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East—the al-Udeid Air Base—is located in Qatar, and U.S. officials say this base is "indispensable" for U.S. offensive and reconnaissance operations in the region. Last year, Washington and Doha reached an agreement to extend U.S. military presence in Qatar by another 10 years. Both parties also revised the defense cooperation agreement of 1992, which will further strengthen their security partnership. In 2022, the Biden administration listed Qatar as one of the U.S.'s main non-NATO allies. This status is granted to "close friends" with strategic military relationships with the U.S. Qatar has been and remains a key mediator in a series of regional conflicts, from the Gaza War to the Afghanistan issue. This factor enhances the weight of this small peninsular monarchy in the eyes of the U.S. Samuel Valburg, a representative of the U.S. Department of State, stated that Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia will focus on "strengthening peace forces in the region through cooperation with allies." In an interview published on Monday in the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat (published in London), Valburg pointed out that this visit "undoubtedly reflects the important strategic role played by Saudi Arabia in the region." The U.S. views Saudi Arabia as a key partner in efforts to strengthen regional security and stability. Washington "will not forget Saudi Arabia's role in related negotiations concerning the Ukraine war and its role in easing tensions in Sudan and Yemen." The U.S. Department of State also expressed confidence that Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia "will enhance cooperation in addressing maritime threats in the Red Sea and related events involving Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and Iraq, and counter Iran's destabilizing behavior in the region." Hassan Al-Hassan noted: "Persian Gulf countries view mediation in conflicts as a source of influence and prestige. They successfully leverage their role as mediators to position themselves as indispensable partners in Trump's political agenda." Doha also maintains close contact with Syrian President Ahmed Ashaal, who is attempting to lift Western sanctions against his country. A "well-informed official" from CNN reported that Syria is expected to be a key issue in Qatar's negotiations with the Trump team during the visit. Doha is pushing for the U.S. to lift sanctions imposed on Syria in December 2019 under Trump's first presidential term—the so-called "Caesar Act." Original article: [https://www.toutiao.com/article/7503482749471310390/] Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Top" or "Bottom" button below.