US President Donald Trump yesterday capped off a Gulf tour in Abu Dhabi that has seen the securing of multibillion-dollar deals, a US$1.4 trillion investment pledge from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as historic overtures to Syria and renewed optimism over an Iran nuclear deal.
On his first foreign tour of his second term, Trump oversaw a US$200 billion order from Qatar Airways for Boeing jets and a US$600 billion investment from Saudi Arabia — including nearly US$142 billion in weapons, which the White House described as the largest-ever arms deal.
Trump also expressed optimism over reaching an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program, and in a diplomatic shift, decided to lift decades-long sanctions on Syria.
Photo: AFP
In Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, Trump was greeted with lavish welcomes and hailed the three Arab leaders.
He said that he and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “like each other a lot” — in sharp contrast with the frosty Saudi-US relations that marked the start of former US president Joe Biden’s term.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed lauded a strong partnership between the two countries that grew under Trump’s leadership when he vowed to invest US$1.4 trillion in the US economy over 10 years.
AI AMBITIONS
There was no announcement of a breakthrough on the Gaza war, which Qatar has been a key mediator, with Trump repeating claims that Washington should “take” Gaza and turn it into a “freedom zone.”
However, Trump said a deal was close on Iran’s nuclear program that would avert military action, sending oil prices tumbling.
He said the trip had resulted in securing “trillions of dollars,” but the Gulf leaders’ largesse also stirred controversy, with Qatar offering Trump a luxury aircraft ahead of his visit for presidential and then personal use, in what Trump’s Democratic opponents charged was blatant corruption.
English-language Emirati newspaper the National has reported that the US and the UAE were working on announcing an artificial intelligence (AI) and tech partnership during Trump’s visit.
The UAE is seeking to become a leader in technology, especially in AI, to help diversify its oil-reliant economy. However, these ambitions hinge on access to advanced US technologies, including AI chips that were under stringent, restricted export.
Earlier this week, Trump rescinded further controls on AI chips, which were imposed by his predecessor to make it harder for China to access advanced technology.
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