President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East tour without Israel involved has resulted in a diplomatic and economic triumph, headlined by a $600 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia. This historic agreement has been celebrated by the White House as the dawn of a “golden era of partnership", promising to deepen U.S.-Saudi ties for generations, mainly through economic means. The deal, which spans cutting-edge sectors like artificial intelligence, energy, and defence, is hoped to inject trillions of dollars into the U.S. economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. As part of a broader Gulf tour encompassing Qatar and the UAE, Trump’s visit has been a strategic pivot toward economic collaboration with Gulf nations, set against a context of widespread regional tensions involving Iran and ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The cornerstone of Trump’s Saudi success, a multifaceted $600 billion investment package, is anchored by a record-breaking $142 billion arms deal, the largest defence sales agreement in U.S. history. Besides that, Saud's DataVolt chipped in with its $20 billion commitment to AI data centres and energy infrastructure, while American giants like Google, Uber, and Boeing (securing a $4.8 billion aircraft order); Nvidia; and Amazon Web Services are partnering with Saudi entities to advance technology and infrastructure projects, including Saudi Arabia’s ambitious King Salman International Airport and Qiddiya City. The arms package equips Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art military hardware and training, modernising its air, space, maritime, and land forces. This deal not only strengthens Saudi military capacity but also solidifies its role as a key U.S. ally, shifting regional power dynamics away from its former key partner; Israel, particularly in countering Iran’s influence.
The absence of Israel from Trump’s itinerary has not surprised anyone, considering their last interaction that sparked discommunication and a series of visitation cancellations, implying a recalibration of U.S. priorities alongside Israel’s entanglement in Gaza and Lebanon conflicts. While the White House remains optimistic about future Saudi-Israel normalisation, the immediate focus is on Gulf partnerships, with the $600 billion deal positioning Saudi Arabia as a linchpin in Trump’s strategy to stabilise the region economically and counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Stakeholders, especially those from U.S. companies reaping billions in contracts, and Saudi leaders eyeing technological and military advancements are going to benefit from these faults. Analysts suggest this shift may threaten Israel's survival in the region, yet Trump’s vision, articulated in Riyadh as a “golden age” of Middle Eastern cooperation, prioritises prosperity over conflict, leaving Iran wary and Gulf nations empowered.
Source: Bloomberg, Newsweek, Reuters, Al Jazeera
Photos: Unsplash
