Fri May 16 20:02:25 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Middle East Trip: Billions Secured, Israel Snubbed, and a Rebuking of Interventionism

**Washington D.C.** – President Donald Trump concluded a whirlwind three-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, securing an estimated $2 trillion in investment deals and signaling a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East.

The trip, his first planned overseas visit of his second term, was marked by several key developments:

* **Massive Investments:** The White House celebrated the massive influx of investment commitments, framing them as a major economic victory for Trump.
* **Rebuke of Neoconservatism:** Addressing an investment summit in Riyadh, Trump sharply criticized past U.S. interventionist policies, particularly those led by neoconservatives in Iraq and Afghanistan. He argued that true progress in the region comes from within, not from external imposition.
* **Israel Omitted:** In a notable move, Trump skipped a visit to Israel, fueling speculation about strained relations between the U.S. administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. This omission was accompanied by other actions perceived as marginalizing Israel, including ongoing talks with Iran, a ceasefire in Yemen, and unilateral negotiations for the release of an Israeli soldier held by Hamas.
* **Syria Sanction Relief:** Trump surprised observers by announcing he would lift sanctions on Syria at the request of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, a move likely to benefit the struggling Syrian economy.
* **Deal with Iran:** Trump reiterated his desire for a deal with Iran, warning of “massive maximum pressure” if Tehran rejects his offer.
* **Controversial Gaza Proposals:** He also suggested the idea of “depopulating” Gaza and turning it into a US-controlled “freedom zone.”

While some Palestinian rights advocates had hoped for a push to end the war on Gaza, Trump’s trip did not result in any major breakthroughs in that regard. Experts are now debating the long-term implications of Trump’s actions on the US-Israel relationship and the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

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