Trump’s Gulf visit yields major arms deal with US weapons as key focus
webangah News agency, citing Mehr News Agency, International Desk: Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump visited the southern Persian Gulf region for the second time—an effort that, according to The New Yorker’s credible reporting, achieved little beyond extracting ”petrodollars” for America’s economy and military-industrial complex. Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who aim to reshape their image through strategic vision documents, viewed Trump’s presence in their capitals as an opportunity to reinforce monarchies and attract new economic prospects. Yet this optimism persists among Arab rulers despite foreign investors’ reluctance to pour capital into the arid deserts of Hejaz—preferring instead to extract wealth from the region. This dynamic was starkly evident during Trump’s joint meeting with GCC members. Perhaps this explains his absurd comparison of Iran’s political-environmental conditions with those of arid Gulf Arab states—a clear attempt to rebrand these desert nations.
Trump’s Business in the Persian Gulf!
During his first Middle East trip since returning to the White House (May 13–16), Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. His delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hagst, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Prior to this visit,U.S.-GCC trade stood at $180 billion. During negotiations:
– $600 billion in agreements with Saudi Arabia
– $243 billion deals with Qatar
– A final $200 billion UAE pact covering AI aerospace energy and industrial sectors
Western sources earlier reported Emirati investments totaling $1.4 trillion during Tahnoun bin Zayed’s Washington visit per white House figures Trump secured cumulative commitments worth one trillion dollars primarily in transit AI aviation space mining healthcare education.
Military Gains:
Trump signed major defense pacts including:
– A U.S.-Saudi “Strategic Economic Partnership” following talks with Mohammed bin Salman
– A memorandum modernizing Saudi armed forces signed by Defense minister Khalid bin Salman counterpart Pete Hagst ($142B arms deal)
– Qatar agreed purchase 160 Boeing jets ($20B) plus advanced drones MK9 Reapers fixed-site anti-drone systems ($3B total).
The Illusion: While arab rulers obsess over internal-external security dilemmas viewing Washington as guarantor against existential threats—this facade crumbled repeatedly during yemeni strikes on Saudi-UAE critical sites post-Arab Spring collapses suggests eroding credibility America attempts revival through theatrical security assurances particularly against Iran Resistance Axis analysts note staged tensions Israel may expand perceived protection scope.
A Hollow Spectacle?
Beyond extracting one trillion dollars from GCC sovereign funds what tangible benefits did Trumps visit bring Middle Eastern citizens? Washingtons strategy strengthens GCC Israel axis countering revisionist players China Russia Iran while weaponizing sanctions terrorism war destabilize northern Gulf Iraq Syria lebanon exemplify destructive trajectory unless contextualized Trumps fantastical portrayals Gulf states lifting Syrias sanctions under Sharia law masquerade achievements Reality: After 16 years orchestrating syrias civil war via Turkey Israel conservative Arabs now demands Damascus join Abraham Accords surrender energy fields Western powers exchange ending siege (!)
the Lesson:
Yemen defeating worlds top military exposes regional gambles on losing horses western propaganda frames B2 bombers F35 jets aircraft carriers invincible yet battlefield realities prove otherwise If US cannot defend own assets how credibly protect arab allies? Whether security sold like French perfume or merely ignites fresh instability cycles remains seen
Sources: [webangah News Agency]
