Trump heads to Gulf on business

President Donald Trump is kicking off his second term’s first major overseas trip today with a four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

The visit will focus primarily on business deals and investment opportunities rather than traditional diplomacy or security concerns related to Iran or the Gaza war.

Trump will meet with Gulf leaders and attend a Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, which will also have CEOs of BlackRock, Citigroup and IBM in attendance. These companies are also looking to get some of that investment.

The president seeks to lock in $1 trillion in investments from Saudi Arabia alone, after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged $600 billion over four years in a call to Trump after his January inauguration.

The trip coincides with new Trump Organization projects in the region, like an 80-floor tower in Dubai and a beachfront golf course outside Doha. It has raised issues of conflict of interest despite denials from the White House.

Overall, the visit to wealthy Middle East countries signals a shift from traditional US foreign policy. His focus remains on economic gain and reinforcing partnerships with Gulf nations willing to invest heavily in the US economy.