Middle Eastern Talks for Glamour or Diplomacy

Trump spent his first official state visit to the Middle East, pledging diplomacy to countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar with a long extensive talk with the nations concerning sanctions, trade, and affairs. One of the most surprising stints of the trip is a generous offer that Trump could not refuse, a brand new Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, the same type as the current presidential transport albeit a few generations newer. Trump loved this offer from Qatari officials, even pledging to turn it into the brand new presidential aircraft but in actuality, the trip was marked by billion-dollar deals, lavish receptions, and a glaring exclusion of Israel from his itinerary. Even as the White House presented the trip as an historic economic success, critics and regional analysts argue about whether the trip undermined long standing alliances, bypassing emergencies, and prioritized diplomacy over stability.

In a dramatic move, Trump rolled back U.S. sanctions on Syria, praising its new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa—a one-time al-Qaeda ally then targeted by the U.S. for terrorism. The action, unilaterally made without consulting Israel, risks further destabilizing the region, as Syria is close to Iran and still fighting wars with Israeli soldiers. The move bewildered U.S. government officials, especially after Trump pledged nearly $2 trillion into financially restructuring the region. Members of congress, some heavy conservative, are providing pushback to the strategy, especially based on past affairs with Syria. The Penn Wharton Budget Model economists caution that Trump's concurrent tariff policies—projected to reduce long-term GDP by up to 6%, can counteract any foreign investment gain through restraining trade and capital flows.

Watchdog groups highlight ethical concerns, such as Qatar's $400 million gift airplane to Trump, possibly breaking emoluments clauses and with unfathomable retrofitting costs borne by the taxpayer. Indeed, Trump’s glitzy visit into the region of boom and bust, may spell out disaster for the U.S. During the same time, Trump refused to visit Eastern Europe for more peace talks with Russian president Vladmir Putin. Additionally, even after being questioned several times, Trump did not talk about anything related to the current war in Israel-Gaza, especially after Israeli forces just launched one of the largest offensives in the region. John McGhillion from The Hill notes the state visit made by Trump as both the most involved a president has been, while also declining to meet the needs of the region at the same time. It’s clear that mass attention aided with political consideration will be needed to further evaluate how Trump bends the dynamics of current Middle-Eastern affairs.

Extemp question: Is the United States justified in continuing its current foreign policy strategy with the Middle East?

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• Nesrine Malik, The Guardian 

• Samia Nakhoul, Reuters

• Rachel Siegel, The Washington Post

• Domenico Montanero, National Public Radio