Trump visits richest nations 2025: the Gulf Arab nation that is trying to leverage its influence over Donald Trump, President of the United States, for tangible gains. They have strengthened their personal relationship with the president and committed to trillions in US (United States) investments. These nations are positioning themselves as key intermediaries in conflicts like those in Gaza, Iran and Ukraine that Trump aims to resolve.
US president Donald Trump visits Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and continues to Qatar and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) till 16 May 2025. These countries are hosting Trump’s first state visit after being re-elected. According to Hasan Alhassan, Gulf states are casting themselves strategically as indispensable security and economic partners to the United States, aiming to invest trillions of dollars in its economy and spend heavily on its weapon systems.
US-Gulf relations have improved since Trump returned to office. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, frustrated with the perceived lack of United States interest under the Biden administration, had diversified their relationships. They now view Trump’s presidency as an opportunity to achieve their objectives.
Each of the three nations—UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar—has its own list of priorities that they aim to achieve through their interaction with the United States. Here are the strategies of Gulf Arab nations to pursue their objectives with the United States:
A Security Agreement between US and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states prioritized security, as Ali Shihabi, an expert on Saudi politics and economics, emphasized in relation to a visit by US President Trump. The Gulf states are seeking reassurance from the United States regarding its security commitment to regional stability. A trade and defense pact between Saudi Arabia and the United States stalled because of Saudi Arabia’s insistence on Israel committing to a path toward Palestinian statehood. Firas Maksad recommended that Trump is likely to pursue major deals regardless of normalization efforts, which he considers “dead.”
Riyadh is looking for US cooperation for a civil nuclear program but disagreement over domestic uranium enrichment has caused concern in Israel and the US due to the potential for nuclear weapons proliferation. White House backing for this program could lead to beneficial contracts for American firms.
Riyadh and United States relations progress as Saudi Arabia shows potential to invest $1 trillion in the US, contingent on a Trump visit. Saudi Arabia plans to expand trade and investment with us by $600 billion over 4 years. Even though Riyadh needs to sell oil at a profit to fund its economic diversifications clashes with Trump’s wish to reduce oil prices.
The UAE’s Pursuit for AI dominance
The UAE (United Arab Emirates) focuses on AI (artificial intelligence) and its strategy to strengthen relations with us through investment. The UAE, among the richest countries per capita, has committed trillions of dollars to US investments, aiming to establish Abu Dhabi as a major financial hub.
This investment strategy is seen as a way to reinforce the UAE’s partnership with the United States, which is a critical security guarantor for Gulf states. Moreover, the UAE also wants to capitalize on the US’s dynamic economy and abilities to align with its long-term development plans.
The UAE has also announced an investment plan of $1.4 trillion over 10 years, starting in March 2025, focusing on AI, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing. This investment aligns with the UAE’s goals to diversify its economy without reliance on hydrocarbons.
However, Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a leader in AI by 2031 needs advanced American microchips. During Joe Biden’s presidency, the US restricted AL exports to countries such as China. The UAE was affected by these restrictions and hoped they would be lifted during Trump’s visit. The US announced that Trump would rescind these Biden-era curbs on Thursday, 8th May 2025.
Qatar’s International Diplomacy
Qatar has the most formalized security relations with the United States among Gulf Arab nations. It hosts the biggest military installation of the US in the Middle East, which the State Department considered “indispensable.” The United States recently extended his military power in Qatar for another ten years and amended a 1992 defense cooperation agreement to strengthen their security relationships.
The Biden administration designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally in 2022, a title granted only to close friends with strategic working ties with the US military. Moreover, Qatar is also a key mediator in conflicts like the war in Gaza and Afghanistan, which, according to some experts, is an effort to remain relevant in the eyes of Washington.
Doha’s ties with Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, are so strong that Qatar is advocating for the Trump administration to lift sanctions under the Caesar Act. Qatar is always wary of providing financial support to Syria without Washington’s approval.
However, experts believed that Trump’s visits to three Gulf nations were primarily aimed at securing new deals that would be beneficial for both the Gulf nations and the US. These deals are in the interest of the United States economy and potentially Trump’s personal interest.
