With triumphant aplomb, President Trump made a grand tour of the Middle East, securing trade deals and general goodwill along the way. Trump and his man Elon began their journey in Saudi Arabia, signing a reported $600 billion in trade deals, including $145 billion in an arms agreement that included seminal negotiations on energy, security, and technology. The President's visit to Saudi also included a meeting with Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first time the nations have come together in 25 years.
The pair discussed potential involvement on behalf of Syria in the Abraham Accords, a collection of agreements signed in 2020 that sought to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and a number of Arab states. In exchange for reduced sanctions imposed on Syria by the United States, Al Sharaa has expressed a willingness to not only sign on to the accords but to recognize Israel as a sovereign state, marking a seismic shift in Middle Eastern sentiment. Trump also expressed his hope that such softening could provide an opportunity for Syria to rebuild and rebrand in the wake of a difficult decade.
Trump and Musk continued to Qatar, spending just 48 hours in Doha but securing the largest deal for US-based Boeing in the company's history, with the national airline agreeing to purchase up to 210 planes. All told, the negotiation could be worth over $1.2 trillion for American corporations.
Finally, President Trump and his delegation touched down in Abu Dhabi, where he became just the second sitting U.S. President to visit the nation, the first to do so in almost 20 years. There, he was awarded the Order of Zayed, the highest civilian honor in the United Arab Emirates.
The trip commemorates a rare moment in United States history in which our nation has no significant conflict with any Middle Eastern country. In addition to securing historic economic deals and establishing commercial footholds in the region that will pay returns for decades to come, Trump's reception and ability to work alongside unique cultural frameworks prove his reputation on the world stage.
The visit also marks a strong contrast with former president Biden's interactions with Middle Eastern nations and their leaders. Trump's predecessor visited the region just once meaningfully, two years into his term. He accomplished precious little regarding trade, and tensions were palpable. His visit also predates the invasion of Israel by Hamas despite his having hosted talks between the two sides in hopes of normalizing relations. Biden would later visit Israel a second time in the wake of the attacks, spending just seven tense hours attempting to negotiate de-escalation.
While the situation is ever-evolving, President Trump's success on both economic and diplomatic fronts is an optimistic novelty on the heels of decades of dangerous unrest. With any luck he will use the remainder of his term to continue laying groundwork of peace and prosperity for all parties.
How do you feel about President Trump's visit to the Middle East? Could his administration mark a new frontier for diplomatic and economic relations?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.