Donald Trump recently returned from a four-day, U.S. Yemen also casts a shadow over the Treasury Secretary’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The trip underscored the wealth and might of the richest of the region’s petrostates. Trump hailed these as major accomplishments, boasting that these 14 deals would bring in more than $2 trillion worth of investment to the U.S.
On his most recent trip, Trump attempted to highlight a series of bilateral agreements. These included huge investments and partnerships aimed at fostering US-Gulf relations. For his part, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called on invigorated his promise to invest $600 billion in US-Saudi cooperative ventures. At least one expert remains skeptical that this commitment is feasible given the state of today’s oil market.
In Qatar, Trump celebrated $1.2 trillion in confirmed or expected deals, which he called transformational for both countries.…when Qatar Airways took the world by surprise with an order for up to 210 passenger jets from Boeing. This merger, which is approximately valued at $96 billion. This agreement underscores Qatar’s desire to expand its aviation market. At the same time, it hopes to consolidate the country’s position as a global transport center.
The UAE’s initiatives drew attention during Trump’s visit. In a move aimed at establishing itself as a leader in technology and innovation, the UAE signed an agreement to develop the world’s largest AI campus outside the United States. This aligns with its broader goal of becoming a global AI hub, as both Saudi Arabia and the UAE race to construct large-scale AI data centers.
Yet Trump’s visit was not just about economic agreements. It was filled with ceremonial honors. The UAE previously awarded him its highest civilian award, the Order of Zayed. This high honor recognizes the Ambassador’s exceptional work to enhance bilateral relations. On trips abroad he was joined by stars of the tech world, including Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and Elon Musk. This powerful lineup further underscored the trip’s emphasis on technology and smart investment.
The White House has rolled out a complementary, historic $142 billion defense deal. This pact continues to be the most significant arms transaction in U.S. history. This MOU is the latest manifestation of US strategic partnerships with GCC states in defense and security.
To his credit, Trump seemed genuinely enthusiastic about how much these agreements could accomplish. He continued, “The jobs and money pouring into our countries, there’s never been anything like it.” Analysts say to take it easy. Tim Callen from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remarked on the challenges faced by Saudi Arabia in meeting its ambitious investment goals, stating, “It’s going to be very hard for Saudi to come up with that sort of money in the current oil price environment.”
In addition, the IMF has just lowered its prediction for Saudi Arabia’s GDP growth in 2025 from 3.3% to 3%. However, this change begs some serious questions. It calls into question the sustainability of our current prosperity while dealing with rising oil prices and a changing global economic order.
For all these issues, Trump continued to have a rosy view of the trip’s results. He continued, “What a great four days! It was a landmark four days. He thought a lot about how important his appointments were to the area. He hinted at his anticipated legacy regarding these deals: “I’ll be sitting home, who the hell knows where I’ll be, and I’ll say, ‘I did that.’”
In conclusion to most of his remarks Trump trumpeted an audacious claim. He was convinced that the real credit for these deals would go to somebody else in the end. Somebody’s going to be taking the credit for this, somebody,’ said someone at [US DOT] Headquarters, you know, press remember this,’ he added.
Combined with the partnership agreements announced during Trump’s visit, that will make the total for the next 10 years about $1.4 trillion. This commitment is part of a broader US effort to deepen economic relations between the US and Gulf states. It further responds to their common interests in technology and defense.
Bader Al Saif gave us as an outside perspective, especially looking at the technological implications of these deals. He continued, “The shift in technology that we saw in the 90s started in the US. This showcases the historical precedence of technological breakthroughs and the US-Gulf partnership.
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