President Donald Trump’s recent multi-day foreign trip through three wealthy Arab Gulf states marked a significant shift in his approach to foreign policy. The trip focused on securing investments and business deals, setting the stage for a new era of American mercantilism in the region.
Trump secured over $2 trillion in investment agreements during the trip, including a nearly $150 billion deal with Saudi Arabia’s defense contractors. He also announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria at the behest of Saudi and Turkish leaders. These moves have been widely celebrated by Republicans, who argue that Trump’s approach is proving effective.
However, not everyone shares this view. Critics argue that Trump’s focus on deals over diplomacy has sent a message to other countries that lavish attention can get results. John Bolton, Trump’s first-term national security adviser, described the president as “transactional,” suggesting that he prioritizes individual deals over broader policy goals.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s trip appears to have yielded significant economic benefits for the United States. His administration acknowledges that the focus of the trip was on investments into America, and many American business leaders have expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities presented by this new approach.
As one senior White House official noted, “They know where the new economic powerhouse is.” The developing synergy between the US government and Arab nations with sovereign wealth funds has created a seismic shift in the Gulf region, with Trump emerging as a key player in shaping this new landscape.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/16/trump-remakes-foreign-trip-saudi-middle-east-00354166