TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST TOUR: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST TOUR: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Prof. Dr. Murat KOÇ

The apparent primary aim of Donald Trump’s Middle East tour—which included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—was to strengthen the economic and geopolitical interests of the United States. This trip marked Trump’s first major international visit in his second presidential term and aimed to deepen strategic partnerships in the region. But what about the hidden agenda?

THE VISIBLE OBJECTIVES

1. Effort to Establish a New Regional Bloc

Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE sought to construct a Sunni Arab axis that excludes Israel, opposes Iran, and keeps a distance from China. This axis intends to deepen economic ties with the U.S. while offering an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative within the Arab world.

2. A Display of Global Leadership

Trump, at the outset of his second term, staged this tour as a form of “economic diplomacy theater” to rebuild his global leadership image. The trillion-dollar deals were meant not only to signify economic gains but also to project power and prestige. He aimed to reverse the perception that the Middle East was drifting away from American influence.

3. A Geo-Economic Counter-Offensive Against China and Russia

The tour was designed to curb Chinese energy investments and technological influence and to undercut Russia’s strategic footholds in Syria and Iran by promoting a “new American economic order.”

THE HIDDEN DIMENSIONS