On May 13, U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in the region currently known as the Persian Gulf for an official visit that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This marks his first significant international trip in his second term, following an earlier journey to attend Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome.
The trip is expected to emphasize business initiatives as he aims to secure agreements in the region while simultaneously seeking to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza and negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran.
Given the multitude of challenges he faces domestically and overseas, this Middle Eastern trip could serve as a platform for him to highlight tangible achievements.
Topics of Discussion
Trump has fostered a strong rapport with Gulf Arab nations, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where his family has numerous business interests and real estate ventures.
His ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) are particularly significant, having conversed during what was his first phone call with a foreign leader since assuming the presidency for another term. They discussed joint strategies for ensuring stability in the Middle East and curbing terrorism, alongside plans for economic collaboration.
This forthcoming trip mirrors the inaugural foreign journey of his first term, during which the Saudis extended a grand welcome and announced billions in investment undertakings.
During his visit to the region in 2017, Trump successfully negotiated a deal for Saudi Arabia to procure arms from the U.S. amounting to $350 billion over ten years, in addition to a previous $110 billion arms agreement established prior to his presidency. The latest Saudi defense spending commitment is significantly higher than before.
Saudi Arabia is currently playing a pivotal role in discussions that aim to conclude the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, enhancing its geopolitical value in the eyes of Washington.
Simultaneously, Qatar has been instrumental in facilitating talks between Israel and Hamas regarding ceasefire agreements and hostage negotiations.
Trump’s objectives during this trip include halting the fighting in Gaza, countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and encouraging Saudi Arabia to formalize relations with Israel by participating in the Abraham Accords.
However, Saudi Arabia remains hesitant to forge ties with Israel as long as hostilities persist in Gaza and there is no commitment from Israel regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The Trump administration has been actively negotiating with Iran regarding its nuclear program, with the support of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who fear that military conflict between the U.S. and Iran could destabilize their countries and the broader region.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in developing its own civilian nuclear program and has sought U.S. approval and assistance in this endeavor. Previously, any U.S. backing for a Saudi nuclear initiative was contingent upon the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel; that condition appears to be absent this time.
Trump’s visit is expected to attract prominent investors from Wall Street and Silicon Valley. A scheduled Saudi-U.S. investment forum on May 13 in Riyadh will feature notable attendees such as BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Palantir CEO Alex Karp. Other expected participants include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and White House AI advisor David Sacks.
The future of Gaza will be a significant point of discussion during Trump’s meetings with Arab leaders. He has committed to working toward ending the conflict while also proposing potential U.S. control over the devastated region, envisioning it as a “Middle Eastern Riviera.” This perspective faces opposition from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab nations.
The U.S. continues to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, recently presenting a proposal for a 21-day cessation of hostilities alongside the release of certain hostages. In contrast, Israel recently approved steps to intensify military actions and territorial control in Gaza.
During this trip, Trump will not be stopping in Israel—a decision that has drawn disappointment from Israeli officials, who are also apprehensive about the potential outcomes of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations.
Both American and Israeli leaders are unified in their resolve to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear military capabilities. However, Israeli officials worry that Trump might prioritize avoiding military conflict with Iran and would consider a deal that would not align with Israel’s interests.
Summit of Gulf Leaders
On May 14, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is hosting a summit for leaders of the Gulf states, providing Trump an opportunity to outline America’s proposals for economic cooperation to prominent Arab leaders. The meeting will involve nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.
Following this summit, Trump will continue his travels to Qatar to visit a U.S. military installation, and then to the UAE in further segments of his trip.
In anticipation of this important foreign trip, Trump has hinted at a “very significant announcement” prior to his departure, though he has not disclosed any details.