U.S. President Donald Trump is beginning a four-day visit to three Middle Eastern countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. His visit comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. Analysts suggest key topics on the agenda include the war in Gaza, Iran’s uranium enrichment program, trade, and oil prices.
Trump has long maintained close ties with Gulf Arab nations, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where his children have multiple business and real estate projects. In his second presidential term, Trump is attempting to mediate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. As part of these efforts, two countries have already held talks in Saudi Arabia, increasing its importance to Washington. Meanwhile, Qatar is playing a mediator role in negotiations between Israel and Hamas concerning a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
On the first day of the visit, the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum will take place. Announced earlier this week, the forum will host key figures including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Palantir CEO Alex Karp, and top executives from Citigroup, IBM, Qualcomm, Alphabet, and Franklin Templeton. David Sacks, a White House advisor on AI and cryptocurrency, will also participate.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE aim to become global hubs for artificial intelligence and have heavily invested in AI infrastructure. They are seeking to purchase semiconductors from the U.S. While legal hurdles existed under President Biden, the Trump administration plans to ease those barriers.
Nuclear Ambitions
Discussions are ongoing between the Trump administration and Iran regarding Tehran’s uranium enrichment program, which the UAE and Saudi Arabia support. Saudi Arabia is also seeking U.S. approval and support to launch its own civilian nuclear program.
Israel-Gaza Talks
Another major topic will be the future of Gaza. Trump has pledged to end the conflict but has made controversial comments, recently suggesting the U.S. could take control of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and even referred to it as a potential “key housing project.”
Oil Prices and Economic Matters
There may also be talks about lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria’s new government. Additionally, there are rumors that the Trump administration may rename the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf,” a move welcomed by Arab nations but likely to provoke a strong reaction from Iran.
Oil production will also be a focus. Trump has long pressured OPEC countries, led by Saudi Arabia, to increase oil output to reduce fuel prices for American consumers. Key decisions on oil production could emerge during this visit.