President Donald Trump’s whirlwind Middle East tour ended with diplomatic bombshells, economic windfalls, and geopolitical gambits that have reshaped America’s posture in the region—again. From brokering trillions in investment to lifting decades-old sanctions on Syria and floating the idea of U.S. control over the Gaza Strip, Trump turned a trip expected to be about economics into a showcase of muscular diplomacy and headline-making disruption.
Trump arrived in the Gulf promising $1 trillion in deals. He left with commitments that exceeded even that ambitious target. Here’s the breakdown:
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Saudi Arabia: A $600 billion strategic partnership including massive investment in U.S. AI and energy, and a historic $142 billion defense package, the largest arms deal in U.S. history.
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Qatar: A staggering $1.2 trillion economic exchange, headlined by Qatar Airways’ purchase of 210 Boeing jets for $96 billion, alongside deals in quantum technology and workforce development.
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UAE: Trump expanded on a March deal, adding $200 billion in commercial agreements, bringing the total to $1.6 trillion in U.S.-UAE economic cooperation.
The projected job creation? 2 million, according to the White House.
These deals not only underscore Trump’s transactional prowess but also strengthen America’s industrial, defense, and tech sectors with the Gulf’s sovereign wealth behind them.
Perhaps the most controversial move came mid-week when Trump announced the lifting of decades-old U.S. sanctions on Syria, marking a seismic shift in U.S. foreign policy. The country, long designated a state sponsor of terrorism, is now under the rule of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a group once affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Despite its roots, Trump declared Syria deserves a “fresh start.”
“It gives them a good, strong chance. And it was my honor to do so,” he said.
The U.S. is now exploring normalization, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to meet Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey. Trump’s reasoning? Assad is gone, and the new regime—however controversial—must be given a chance to stabilize and rebuild.
This move has drawn sharp criticism from security experts and international human rights advocates, who argue that legitimizing a formerly terror-affiliated regime could set a dangerous precedent.
Trump delivered his clearest message yet to Tehran: no nuclear weapons—or else.
“If Iran’s leadership rejects the olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure,” he warned.
Though Iran didn’t respond publicly, Gulf allies backed Trump’s assertive stance. The message was unmistakable: the U.S. is open to diplomacy, but only if it comes with denuclearization.
While peace talks between Ukraine and Russia were scheduled in Ankara, Russian President Vladimir Putin bailed—reportedly because Trump wasn’t going.
“He wasn’t going if I wasn’t there,” Trump said, brushing off questions about Putin’s absence.
Trump again implied that only a direct meeting between him and Putin could bring an end to the war. While critics see it as self-aggrandizing, others argue it’s a candid reflection of how fractured traditional diplomacy has become.
In what may be his most controversial remark, Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to take control of the Gaza Strip and turn it into a so-called “freedom zone.”
“Let some good things happen… I’d be proud to have the United States have it,” he said.
The idea—to forcibly remove more than 2 million Palestinians and place Gaza under U.S. control—was roundly rejected by Arab leaders and the international community. The UN, EU, and Egypt continue to back a $53 billion reconstruction plan rooted in the two-state solution framework.
Trump’s approach? Bulldoze tradition, offer a radical new vision, and force the world to respond.
