Description: US President Donald Trump has finalized his Gulf tour in the UAE with more business investments in the AI manufacturing and developing sector. He met with the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang as investment pledges were made that apparently amounted to $1.4 trillion dollars over the next ten years. The UAE has made commitments to develop AI data centers for the US with large capacities as the country was aiming at diversifying its economic portfolio abandoning the oil – fueled revenues. Trump also hinted that Qatar played a key role in the US – Iran nuclear negotiations as the counties faced the fifth round of talks this weekend.
Impact: Trump’s Gulf tour saw significant economic and geopolitical developments as the US President solidified US ties with countries from the Arabian peninsula. The tour despite emphasizing substantial investment opportunities also signaled significant geopolitical shifts with the lifting of sanctions on Syria and the nod of approval to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE in their diplomatic commitments towards resolving complex international disputes. Trump’s visit to the Gulf also highlighted a significant shift in US foreign policy towards Israel as he appeared to gradually distance support for Israel’s war on Gaza and Hamas. The US President reconfirmed the political stigma that capital always talks, as he strengthened alliances with countries that have checkered international credentials as the UAE was consistently accused of sponsoring terrorist organizations across the Middle East, a label that also applied to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The tour also confirmed the importance of the countries on the Arabian peninsula for the US energy dependence as the world’s largest economy exponentially built upon decades long controversial relationships with the Middle East. Ultimately, the Gulf tour highlighted that despite recent fluctuations in US foreign policy, the country remains heavily invested in its geopolitical omnipresence on the Middle East as a crucial region for establishing and exercising global influence.