America First agenda features big in Trump’s Middle East trip, says analyst

Key Concepts:

• Donald Trump's foreign policy: Driven by personal and business interests.
• US-Saudi Arabia relations: Primarily economic, cemented during Trump's first term.
• US-Israel relations: Generally aligned, but Trump avoids being drawn into a war with Iran.
• Saudi Arabia-Israel relations: Behind-the-scenes coordination, but public differences exist over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• Abraham Accords: Trump seeks Saudi Arabia's signature for political victory and personal prestige.
• Syria sanctions: Trump's lifting of sanctions is a positive development, influenced by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, aiming to shift Syria away from Iran's orbit.

Donald Trump's Foreign Policy and Motivations

• Professor Hashimi argues that Donald Trump's foreign policy, like his domestic policy, is primarily driven by his personal interests, his family's business interests, and those of his friends.
• She states that Trump lacks a clear and coherent strategic vision for the world or the United States, and his actions are motivated by what benefits him personally.
• Quote: "When it comes to Donald Trump both domestically and internationally one has to realize it's always about himself first and foremost and then his family's uh business interests and then those of his friends."

US-Saudi Arabia Relations

• Trump is trying to further cement the warm relationship he established with the Saudi Arabian "family dictatorship" during his first term.
• This trip to Saudi Arabia involved a large delegation, including senior ministers and CEOs of major US corporations, aiming to strike deals that benefit these corporations and their shareholders.
• The professor emphasizes that these deals do not necessarily benefit the working-class people of the United States or the broader Middle East.

US-Israel Relations

• While the US and Israel generally see eye-to-eye on major issues, Trump is wary of being drawn into another Middle Eastern war.
• Specifically, he has drawn a "red line" against bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, a position advocated by Benjamin Netanyahu.
• The relationship remains firm, but Trump is not willing to blindly follow Netanyahu's advice.

Saudi Arabia-Israel Relations

• Despite public perceptions, Saudi Arabia and Israel share similar views on key regional issues, including Iran, opposition to democratization, popular movements, political Islam, and the Muslim Brotherhood.
• There is close coordination behind the scenes, with reports of multiple meetings between Netanyahu and the Saudi crown prince.
• The main point of contention is the Israel-Palestine conflict, as Saudi Arabia needs to maintain a public stance that aligns with its population's sentiments.
• Saudi Arabia now favors diplomacy with Iran and supports Trump's attempt to reach a deal over Iran's nuclear program, a shift from their previous stance of advocating for military action.

Abraham Accords and Gaza

• Trump wants Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords to claim a political victory and boost his prestige.
• He falsely claims authorship of the Abraham Accords initiative, which was actually laid by the Biden administration.
• Trump's interest in the Abraham Accords is driven by his desire to win a Nobel Prize and stroke his ego.
• Quote: "He's interested in securing a Saudi and Israeli normalization deal because he wants to claim some sort of political victory."
• Regarding Gaza, Trump's plan, announced in February 2024, involves removing the population of Gaza to neighboring countries and building a "Riviera in the Middle East" on the ruins.
• The professor believes Trump doesn't genuinely care about the suffering of the people of Gaza or even Israel, but rather sees the situation as an opportunity to benefit his own image and business interests.

Lifting of Syria Sanctions

• The lifting of sanctions on Syria is viewed as a positive development, as Syria is a "broken society" that needs to rebuild.
• However, it will take many generations for Syria to recover, even under the best circumstances.
• The decision to lift sanctions was influenced by lobbying from the Saudi crown prince and Turkish President Erdogan.
• This move is part of a coordinated plan with Saudi Arabia to bring Syria under its orbit and away from Iran's influence.
• Iran is unlikely to take significant action due to its own economic and political problems.

Conclusion

The analysis suggests that Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions are primarily driven by personal and business interests, rather than a coherent strategic vision. His engagement with Saudi Arabia is largely economic, while his relationship with Israel is tempered by a desire to avoid another Middle Eastern war. The lifting of sanctions on Syria is a positive step, but it is also part of a larger geopolitical strategy involving Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Overall, the professor paints a picture of Trump as a self-serving actor whose foreign policy decisions are shaped by personal gain and a desire for political victories.