Context:

President Trump's upcoming visit to the Middle East is centered around securing business deals rather than advancing diplomatic objectives, with a focus on transactions in planes, nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and arms worth over $1 trillion. This trip aligns with his family's financial interests in the region, as they have multiple pending deals with Saudi, Emirati, and Qatari entities. Trump's approach diverges from previous American presidents who often pursued strategic visions for the region, with the current trip lacking clear foreign policy goals. While negotiations on civilian nuclear equipment with Saudi Arabia continue, they have shifted from diplomacy to standalone business deals. The Gulf leaders, appreciating Trump's transactional nature, have pledged significant investments in the U.S., despite the region's diverging foreign policies and economic challenges.

Dive Deeper:

• President Trump's visit to the Middle East prioritizes business deals over diplomatic or strategic objectives, with plans to announce transactions exceeding $1 trillion in value. This approach contrasts with previous U.S. presidential visits that aimed at regional peace or strategic alliances.

• Trump's current trip includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the financial importance of the Gulf region to his family, who have several ongoing business ventures with local entities, including real estate and cryptocurrency deals.

• The visit does not include stops in Israel or meetings with leaders like President Putin, as Trump's focus is on economic gains rather than addressing ongoing geopolitical tensions such as the Gaza conflict or Iran's nuclear ambitions.

• The trip's agenda aligns with Trump's business interests, including investments from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund into Jared Kushner's company and the recurring hosting of LIV Golf tournaments at Trump-owned venues, which have bolstered the Trump brand internationally.

• Gulf leaders, including the Saudi crown prince and the UAE ruler, appreciate Trump's business-centric approach, which avoids contentious issues like human rights, and have pledged large-scale investments in the United States, though economic constraints may limit these commitments.

• Trump's relationship with Gulf leaders is underpinned by mutual economic interests and past political support, exemplified by his defense of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the Jamal Khashoggi murder, which led to significant financial backing for Trump's ventures.

• The transactional nature of Trump's Middle Eastern strategy reflects a shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities under his administration, emphasizing economic benefits over traditional diplomatic engagements or alliances.