Trump's regional trip: pursuing diplomacy or personal business

On Tuesday, May 13, U.S. President Donald Trump began his regional trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia. In the country, he held meetings with Saudi officials and other Arab leaders and participated in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-U.S. summit.

Trump continued his regional tour with visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where he met and consulted with senior officials of these countries.

Objectives of Trump’s trip to three Persian Gulf Arab countries

On his first day back in the White House, journalists asked Donald Trump which country would be the destination of his first foreign trip. While U.S. presidents typically visit Canada, Mexico, or the United Kingdom as their first foreign destination, Trump broke this tradition by traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Hours after his second inauguration, Trump considered the possibility of returning to Saudi Arabia, stating, “I did this with Saudi Arabia last time because they agreed to buy $450 billion of our products.”

A few days later, in January, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responded with a more lucrative offer, pledging to invest $600 billion in the U.S. economy over the next four years.

According to The Guardian, Trump openly stated that his first state visit would go to the highest bidder. While he claimed to prioritize securing economic deals that benefit Americans, he used the trip to strengthen ties with countries and generate business for his family.

As he did in 2017, Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the first stop of his state visit to the Middle East. Last month, he made a brief foreign trip to the Vatican for Pope Francis’s funeral, but that was not a planned state visit by the U.S. president.

It is clear why Persian Gulf Arab countries, with their immense wealth from oil and gas exports and sovereign wealth funds eager to invest, are more attractive than traditional U.S. neighbors and allies like the UK or Canada.

During his first presidency, Trump amplified his administration’s role in securing economic deals with Saudi Arabia, including a highly publicized $110 billion arms sale package announced during his trip eight years ago.

However, many of these deals were tentative, and some of the military equipment Saudi Arabia intended to purchase had already been negotiated under the Obama administration.

Trump organization’s investments in Persian Gulf Arab countries

While the actual value of Saudi and other Persian Gulf Arab countries’ investments in the U.S. economy remains unclear, their deals with the Trump family business and its foreign partners are far more tangible.

In Saudi Arabia, the Trump Organization has signed business contracts for two real estate projects, including a Trump Tower in Riyadh and another $530 million residential tower in the coastal city of Jeddah.

In Qatar, the Trump Organization announced a new golf resort and real estate development last month. The project, named Trump International Golf Club and Villas, is located approximately 40 kilometers from Doha, Qatar’s capital. This is another branding deal for the Trump family business, where it invests no capital but will earn millions in branding and management fees once the golf resort is operational.

In the UAE, the Trump Organization currently operates the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, which opened in 2017 during his first presidency. This project is part of a long-term partnership between Trump and a Dubai-based Emirati billionaire.