US President Donald Trump announced a historic U-turn in US foreign policy by easing all sanctions against Syria. During his Saudi visit, he affirmed plans to hold talks with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former Al Qaeda commander now head of Syria’s Islamist-led regime.
Donald Trump’s four-country Gulf tour started with palace pomp, billions of dollars in deals, and a promise of a diplomatic overhaul in the Middle East. He will then travel to Qatar and the UAE, where additional investments and arms sales are on offer.
Trump Lifts Sanctions, Meets Syria’s Islamist Leader
In an unexpected move, President Trump announced in Riyadh that the United States would eliminate all current sanctions against Syria. He did this over objections within his own government and vehement protests from US ally Israel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan apparently urged Trump on.
Trump said he would welcome Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who became the new ruler after Bashar al-Assad was removed in December. Sharaa was a leader of rebel troops in the civil war and cut ties with Al Qaeda in 2016. Analysts are observing this meeting with interest to determine Washington’s new stance toward Damascus.
$600 Billion Saudi Investment, $142 Billion Arms Deal
Trump’s first day in Saudi Arabia was filled with fiscal obligations. Riyadh promised to invest $600 billion in the US, secondly, Trump brokered a $142 billion arms deal with the Saudis. The visit highlighted the US-Saudi strategic partnership and prepared the ground for greater regional power.
Qatar Visit to Bring More Investment, Boeing Deal
Donald Trump will visit Doha on Wednesday to see Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Qatar, a US ally, is to commit multiple hundred billion dollars of investments in the United States. Qatar Airways also intends to make a giant order for 100 widebody aircraft from Boeing.
Another contentious highlight is the gift by Qatar of a Boeing 747-8 to the US government, designed to become Air Force One. The Trump administration intends to eventually gift it to his presidential library. This has triggered bipartisan ethics and national security concerns.
Trump May Fly to Turkey After UAE Stop
Following his Qatar trip, Trump will proceed to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for talks with the UAE leadership. Although his formal schedule concludes on Friday with his return to Washington, Trump has hinted at a potential detour to Turkey. There, he might broker the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Trump’s Gulf tour represents a dramatic change in U.S. foreign policy. By easing sanctions against Syria and dealing with its problematic leadership, Trump aims to shift Washington’s Middle East policy. Business transactions, defense collaboration, and top-level diplomacy characterize the trip. Whether this risky reset will be worth it remains to be seen.
