Trump's visit to the Persian Gulf signals a possible shift in Middle East politics

United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (right) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump on a visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 15, 2025. (Emirates News Agency)

U.S. President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates on Friday, concluding a four-day tour of the Persian Gulf that analysts say "is about money."

Despite hopes that Washington will promote a ceasefire and ease tensions, Trump's visit saw continued Israeli airstrikes and an escalation of regional conflicts.

Trump's trip not only glossed over the concerns of the Arab world, but also appeared to sideline Israel's sensitivities.

U.S. President Donald Trump departed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday afternoon, concluding a lucrative four-day tour of the Gulf, which also took him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Despite expectations that Trump's visit could help defuse the conflict in Gaza and ease regional tensions, the U.S. president focused his visit to the Middle East primarily on economic gains, securing multibillion-dollar investment commitments from the three Gulf countries.

Analysts believe that by bypassing the region's conflict zones and prioritizing trade deals, Trump's tour signals a potential shift in U.S. policy in the Middle East.

COST-EFFECTIVE TRAVEL

Huge trade deals defined Trump's Middle East tour.

From the beginning of his second term, Trump signaled that his first major foreign trip would emphasize advancing U.S. economic interests. On his inauguration day in January, Trump declared that he would choose Saudi Arabia as his first destination "if Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another $450 or $500 billion (of U.S.) goods."

Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Trump secured an investment deal with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, securing $600 billion in U.S. investments.

Among the agreements signed is "the largest defense sales deal in history: nearly $142 billion," according to a White House statement. Under this agreement, the United States will supply Saudi Arabia with "state-of-the-art war equipment and services from more than a dozen U.S. defense companies."

In Qatar, Trump reached an agreement with the Gulf nation to generate "an economic exchange worth at least 1.2 trillion dollars." He also secured commercial deals worth more than $243.5 billion, including the sale of 210 U.S.-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets to Qatar Airways, valued at $96 billion.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (2nd right) and U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd left) witness the signing of a series of agreements at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, on May 14, 2025. (Amiri Diwan/Qatar News Agency)

In the United Arab Emirates, the last stop on the trip, Trump announced $200 billion in bilateral trade deals, bringing "the total investment deals in the Gulf region to more than $2 trillion," the White House said.

Trump's trip to the Middle East "is all about money," said Rodger Shanahan, a Middle East analyst at the Lowy Institute. "The Gulf states are a source of foreign investment for the United States of a size that makes for good announcements."

"IMPRECISE ROLE" IN EASING TENSIONS

Despite hopes that Washington would leverage its special ties with Israel to promote a ceasefire and reduce regional tensions, the United States has yet to take meaningful steps to resolve Middle East conflicts.

During Trump's visit, Israel continued large-scale airstrikes on Gaza, killing dozens of people daily. In Yemen, Houthi forces and Israel launched continuous retaliatory attacks, while frequent Israeli military attacks on Lebanon caused casualties.

Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, on May 16, 2025. (Photo by Jamal Awad)

Although the U.S. claims to seek peace in the Middle East, "the reality on the ground contradicts the stated goals of the United States," said Mostafa Amin, an Egyptian researcher on Arab and international affairs. "The murders (...) on the part of Israel during Trump's visit raise serious questions about the sincerity of any U.S. peace effort."

The disappointment among Arab nations came from Trump's incendiary comments about the occupation of Gaza. At a roundtable discussion with Qatari officials in Doha, he suggested that the United States should "take" Gaza and reshape its future.

"I think I would be proud that the United States has it, takes it, makes it a freedom zone," he told reporters. "Let good things happen, let people be in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with."

"He referred to peace only in the context of the release of hostages," said Amjad Abu al-Ezz, a political science professor at the Arab American University in the West Bank. "There was no mention of a ceasefire, de-escalation or even basic humanitarian corridors (in Gaza)."

Trump did not hesitate to criticize Iran during his trip, calling it "the most destructive force" in the Middle East and accusing it of fueling regional instability. His comments drew sharp rebukes from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, further escalating already strained U.S.-Iran relations.

"Although Trump's visit produced some economic benefits, the United States has yet to present clear solutions to the underlying regional tensions," said Ali Johar, a political analyst in the United Arab Emirates.

By focusing solely on its economic interests and ignoring the concerns of regional populations, Washington appears to be drifting toward a "lazy role" in resolving conflicts in the region, Johar said.

POSSIBLE POLICY CHANGE

Not only did Trump's trip overlook the concerns of the Arab world, but it also seemed to sideline Israel's sensitivities.

Unlike his first presidential trip to the Middle East in 2017, Trump's last visit excluded Israel from his itinerary. On the eve of his arrival, reports emerged that the United States had even held direct talks with Hamas, culminating in the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.

People watch a live broadcast of the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in a square in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Jamal Awad)

"Skipping Israel was seen as a reflection of the deterioration of ties between the US administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," said an Al Jazeera analysis.

While in the United Arab Emirates, Trump acknowledged that "a lot of people are starving in Gaza," an unusual statement interpreted as a sign of his growing frustration over Israel's protracted military campaign.

Analysts suggest that Trump, known for his pragmatic "America First" stance, is losing patience with Israel.

"For decades, Israel has leveraged its special relationship with the United States to serve as Washington's gatekeeper," the Times of Israel wrote in an op-ed, noting that many in Israel "were concerned that the best partner they had ever had in the White House had lost interest."

This concern is not unfounded. Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration would rather "swim in a stream of investment in the Gulf than get bogged down in the region's persistent problems."

The United States appears to be shifting its focus and policy priorities to the Gulf region and the economic field, said Kheir Diabat, a professor at Qatar University's Department of International Affairs.

"While economic cooperation is certainly beneficial to the region," Diabat added, "what the United States should prioritize now is to shoulder its responsibility and help restore stability in the Middle East."