With Middle East Tour, Trump Reshapes US Foreign Policy

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The president rejected the interventionist foreign policy approach of both parties, in a significant contrast to past US administrations.

News Analysis

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s recent tour of the Middle East has sent a clear message that economic interests and dealings are at the heart of his foreign policy vision.

Trump spent four days in the Gulf from May 13th to 16th, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, securing trillions of dollars worth of investment commitments that would benefit American businesses and jobs.

While questions remain as to how much the pledged investment will be embodied, the trip showed a strategic change in Washington’s involvement with the Middle East. Trump has been in sharp contrast to past US administrations, rejecting the interventionist foreign policy approach that both Republicans and Democrats have accepted for decades.

Speaking at the Investment Summit in Riyadh on May 13, Trump openly criticised previous US policies towards Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the region.

“In the end, the so-called “national builders” destroyed far more countries than they built. And interventionists were intervening in complex societies that even themselves didn’t understand,” Trump said.

He praised the achievements of the Gulf countries, saying their transformation was not the result of “western interventionists flying people on beautiful planes and giving lectures on how to govern your own lives.”

“No. The sparkling wonders of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by so-called state builders, neoconservatives or liberal nonprofits.”

The speech emerged as one of the most talked about events of his trip, receiving warm applause from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the audience.

“It’s no secret that President Trump understands the political language of the Middle Eastern than any of his predecessors,” Dahlia Ziada, a senior fellow at the Jerusalem Security and Foreign Affairs Center, told the Epoch Times.

Ziada, an Egyptian political analyst based in Washington, noted that Trump prioritized “building personal bonds of trust” with these leaders, rather than putting pressure on issues of democratization and human rights.

Amid the fierce heat of the Qatar Desert, Trump addressed the US forces at Al Udeid Air Force Base, reaffirming his commitment to “peace through power” in the region.

“As president, my priority is not to end the conflict, but to end the conflict,” Trump said.

The moment was full of symbolism. More than 20 years ago, President George W. Bush was talking to the US forces in Qatar months after the invasion of Iraq. He vowed that the United States will stand with the people of Iraq “as they build a stable democracy and a peaceful future.”

Trump’s visit and message marked a deliberate departure from that era of intervention.

Aludade Air Base, located southwest of Doha, Qatar, is the largest US military installation in the Middle East. It played a key role during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, serving as a major logistics and operational hub for evacuating tens of thousands of people.

What really struck me during my trip to the Middle East was Trump’s “completely distanced from years of foreign policy and national security goals,” according to Middle East expert and former State Department official Joel Rubin.

“The presidential debate was much more tailored to the ears of two audiences: one, a very elite leader in these countries, two, a domestic audience at home,” Rubin told the Epoch Times.

Lavish is welcome across the Gulf Coast

Throughout his four-day visit to the Gulf Coast, Trump met a luxurious pageant and abundant admiration. Each leader appeared to compete for the most generous reception staging for the 47th US President.

In Saudi Arabia, fighter jets escorted the air force, landed in Riyadh, and lavender carpets deployed at an epic reception. In Qatar, cards were welcomed with dozens of camels and traditional sword dances, and many buildings in Doha were illuminated with American flags in stunning displays.

In Abu Dhabi, a traditional “Al Iala” dance performance stole the spotlight after a video of a girl with her hair turned over was spreading through word of mouth. Furthermore, the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was illuminated with stars and stripes.

These receptions were in opposition to the greetings given to President Joe Biden during his 2022 visit to Saudi Arabia, or in honor of President Dick Cheney during his 2002 Gulf trip.

Trump’s message was clear. The era of expensive foreign intervention is over. It focuses on strategic partnerships rooted in mutual economic benefits.

Gulf leaders responded with praise and warmth.

At a state dinner at Rusail Palace, Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim Al Thani expressed how worried he was for Trump last year in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“I prayed for your recovery and for your safety,” he told Trump.

A total of 2 trillion dollars trade

Dozens of US business leaders accompanied the president on a trip, highlighting the economic nature of the Gulf Tour. The US has secured deals in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates totaled $2 trillion, according to the White House.

However, some of these transactions are memorandums of understanding that may take years to come into effect.

Saudi Arabia has pledged a total of $600 billion in various US sectors, of which approximately $142 billion is dedicated to purchasing sophisticated combat equipment and services from US defense companies.

Qatar announced nearly $243.5 billion in economic transactions, with a massive share of Boeing secured a $96 billion agreement to supply jets to Qatar Airways. Parsons, a technology provider in the defense, has also received 30 projects worth up to $97 billion. The White House said the agreement signed with Qatar would “create economic exchanges worth at least $1.2 trillion.”

The UAE has announced more than $200 billion in commercial transactions, including a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airlines to Boeing and GE Aerospace. The UAE previously committed to a US $1.4 trillion investment framework over the next decade, covering AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, quantum computing, biotechnology and manufacturing. The United Arab Emirates is also committed to investing, building and raising funds in US data centers.

“The numbers make your eyes pop out,” Rubin said, but warned that not everything will happen.

During Trump’s first term, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy $450 billion in American products. Actual trade and investment flows were less than $300 billion between 2017 and 2020, according to the Institute for Arab Gulf Countries.

It was a significant diplomatic visit, but Rubin said he hopes the president will focus more on tougher conflicts and bring Israelis, and perhaps even Iranians, to in-person talks.

“There are concerns about his decision to take several positions that appear not to visit Israel and to take some positions that appear to be somewhat distant from the Israeli government,” Rubin said.

Nevertheless, analysts say the deal struck on the trip could strengthen America’s position in the Middle East against China and Russia.

“It balances the growing influence between Russia and China,” Ziada said.

Syrian shocking movements

A key development during Trump’s tour of the Middle East was his announcement that all US sanctions would be lifted in Syria on May 13th. The next day he met Ahmed Arshara, Syrian leader of Riyadh.

Syria is one of the most highly approved countries in the world. These sanctions, initially imposed on the Assad regime, have significantly hindered the country’s efforts to rebuild.

Trump may view sanctions as a strategic move to lift Syria and the Gulf investment and oppose Iran and Russia’s influence in the region.

“The US enemies, Iran and Russia, have been pushed out by this new leader in Syria,” Rubin said, saying this gives Washington a better relationship with the country and an opportunity to counter China’s growing economic influence in the region.

Still, concerns have arisen about the Syrian government’s relationship with al-Qaeda and its treatment of ethnic and religious minorities.

“It remains to be seen whether they will respond proactively and take better action towards protecting ethnic and religious minorities,” Ziada said.

While some in Congress expressed concern about Syria, Trump spoke optimistically.

“It’s their time to shine,” Trump said in his remarks in Riyadh. “Good luck, Syria. Please show me something very special.”