Overview

• President Trump concluded a four-day Middle East trip, securing over $1 trillion in Gulf investment commitments and finalizing major trade and defense agreements.
• Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments, including $142 billion in arms purchases, while Qatar and the UAE committed to significant Boeing aircraft orders.
• Trump lifted all sanctions on Syria, signaling a controversial policy shift and meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former Islamist radical.
• The Qatari royal family gifted a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet for potential use as Air Force One, drawing bipartisan accusations of corruption and legal concerns under the Emoluments Clause.
• The tour reflects a strategic pivot in U.S. foreign policy toward transactional, profit-driven engagement, sidelining traditional geopolitical alliances and priorities like support for Israel.