The Middle East Princes Are Not Just Rich Suckers

Saudi Arabia announced an investment of $600 billion in the United States, the UAE promised to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S., and Qatar announced an investment of $1.2 trillion in the U.S.

Saudi Arabia plans to invest in AI technology data centers, new science and technology investments, infrastructure construction, and mineral development. The UAE plans to invest in semiconductors, energy, high-end manufacturing, and artificial intelligence systems. Qatar plans to purchase Boeing aircraft, invest in hotels, tourism, financial services, technology, healthcare, and energy.

Saudi Arabia ordered $142 billion worth of weapons, but the U.S. only provided the THAAD anti-missile system, modified littoral combat ships into frigates, Patriot-3 air defense missiles, F-15EX fighter jets, MQ-9 Sea Guardian reconnaissance drones, and C-130 tactical transport aircraft.

Qatar ordered $42 billion worth of weapons, and the U.S. only provided the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) system.

KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling and military transport aircraft, LAV 700 Desert Viper armored personnel carriers (APCs), MQ-9B "Reaper" UAV FS-LIDS anti-drone technology.

No matter how much money the Middle Eastern countries invest, such as $3 trillion in the U.S., they still cannot buy F-35 stealth fighters or ballistic and cruise missiles. The U.S. must ensure Israel's security and will not sell these advanced offensive weapons to other countries in the Middle East, no matter how much money is offered.

The Gulf countries' capital injection into the U.S. in AI, semiconductors, and other key areas helps the U.S. maintain its technological leadership. Middle Eastern countries continue to buy U.S. Treasury bonds to alleviate the pressure of $6.5 trillion in maturing debt by 2025 and maintain the U.S. dollar hegemony.

The U.S. does not provide what the Middle Eastern princes truly want. Even if the Middle Eastern princes promise to invest in the U.S., they may not actually pay up. In 2017, Saudi Arabia promised Trump to invest $600 billion in Google, Oracle, Boeing, and Uber. How much has been implemented so far? Approximately only one-tenth of it.

The Gulf countries want to establish a domestic military industrial chain, build a balanced military system, and develop a strong air force. They aim to become the decision-makers at the intersection of Asia, Africa, and Europe and gain more international influence.

Now, the Saudi air force is inferior to Israel with F-35 stealth fighters, and their ballistic and cruise missiles are inferior to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. How can they become the decision-makers at the intersection of Asia, Africa, and Europe? How can they gain more international discourse power? As Trump said, they have no cards left.

The Middle East Can Only Buy J-35 Fighters

The desert camels come from a background of being international middlemen, and each of them is very shrewd. Now, it's just about painting a picture for Trump to keep him happy and stop him from nagging all day.

This time, Trump went to the Middle East to regain the face he lost with us. The Gulf states are princely states, and the most擅长 thing they do is to read the intentions of their superiors, package themselves, and flatter. They are giving Trump a performance.

Saudi Arabia's core requirement is stealth fighters plus ballistic missiles. It wants to have the strongest military equipment in the entire Middle East and also requires technology transfer to establish a military industrial chain in Saudi Arabia. In modern warfare, without air superiority, there can be no victory on land, and even deploying large numbers of troops will result in being bombed and missile-strafed by the enemy's air force. Saudi Arabia is well aware of this.

All of this the U.S. cannot give to Saudi Arabia, not even provide security guarantees. The U.S. military itself cannot eliminate the Houthi rebels in Yemen, so how can it protect Saudi Arabia's safety?

Is Saudi Arabia preparing to unify the Middle East by purchasing $1400 billion worth of arms? Absolutely unnecessary. Buying even one-tenth of the weapons from the U.S. would already be good enough.

The Saudi princes want real war-winning capabilities. Saudi Arabia spends only $70 billion annually on defense, with procurement costs at most $20 billion. What can they afford to buy $1400 billion worth of U.S. weapons? It's highly likely that things will turn out to be another scam, and the best part is yet to come.

With 100 J-35A stealth fighters, two long-range rocket artillery lines, and tactical ballistic missile production lines, totaling only $10 billion, Saudi Arabia could become one of the strongest military forces in the Middle East. It could counter Iran, resist the Houthi rebels in Yemen, gain more independence, and no longer have to constantly look over its shoulder at the U.S. and Europe. There would be no fear of Western countries imposing arms embargoes.

The Saudi princes are always very slick, but I believe we can definitely get some good deals from them soon. Arabs are known for their slickness, and slick people never push in only one direction.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505270657689829898/

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