President Donald Trump embarks Monday on his first major foreign trip of his second term, centering his agenda on high-stakes business deals in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. As diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza stall, Trump is turning to economic partnerships to project success and influence in the Middle East.
The trip is set to highlight a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment to the U.S. over the next four years, along with a $1.4 trillion pledge from the UAE over the next decade. These deals reflect a mutual understanding between Gulf nations and Trump: deliver economic wins, and avoid pressure on politically sensitive issues like Gaza or democratic reform.
“This is a power play by Gulf leaders to show favor through investments while sidestepping contentious topics,” said Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations. “They know Trump responds to grand gestures and dollar signs.”
Trump’s return to the region echoes his 2017 visit, when a lavish Saudi welcome and promises of $110 billion in arms deals set the tone for his transactional foreign policy. However, few of those deals have fully materialized, highlighting the complex nature of such agreements.
Now, with little progress on major foreign policy goals—such as ending the Gaza conflict, halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, or expanding the Abraham Accords—Trump is likely to emphasize economic outcomes. “These deals give him something tangible to promote, especially with little else to show in terms of regional peace,” said former diplomat Dennis Ross.
While the White House frames the trip as part of a broader vision for regional prosperity, analysts caution that the emphasis on commerce may obscure deeper strategic challenges. Nonetheless, Trump is expected to frame the visit as proof that his leadership delivers jobs and investment back home.
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