Trump's Middle East Visit: Deals Over Diplomacy

The Middle East is about to see a familiar face. Trump is heading back to the region. This time, he's got his eyes on the prize: big business deals. He's visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are known for their oil and money. They're also in the middle of some serious conflicts. But Trump isn't there to talk about peace. He's there to talk about profits. Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. That was his campaign talk. But peace is hard to find in a region torn apart by war. So, he's focusing on what he knows best: business. Saudi Arabia has promised to invest $600 billion in the U. S. over the next four years. The UAE is planning to spend even more: $1. 4 trillion over a decade. These are huge numbers. They're also a distraction from the real issues. The Gulf leaders know what Trump wants. They also know what he doesn't want to talk about. Like the war in Gaza. Or human rights. They're happy to roll out the red carpet and sign big deals. It's a win-win for them. They get to look good in front of the world. And they get to avoid tricky questions. This isn't Trump's first rodeo in the Middle East. Back in 2017, he visited Saudi Arabia. He was greeted with a lavish ceremony. And billions of dollars in investments. This trip is shaping up to be more of the same. But the world has changed since then. There's more unrest. More uncertainty. And Trump's big policy goals? They're still out of reach. Trump has some ambitious plans for his second term. He wants to end the fighting in Gaza. He wants to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions. He wants Saudi Arabia to make nice with Israel. But these are tall orders. Especially with the war in Gaza raging on. And Saudi Arabia isn't keen on the Abraham Accords right now. So, Trump is playing up the business deals. He needs something to show for his trip. And these deals are it. They're a way to say, "Look what I'm doing for the U. S. "