Billions and “air palace”: the business at the heart of Trump’s Gulf tour
The US president's first tour is marked by a blurring of public and private interests. Qatar, for example, could offer him a luxury aircraft that would serve as Air Force One, which he would enjoy after his term.
“Trump Goes to the Middle East with One Goal: Business, Business, and More Business,” summarized the headline in The New York Times on Monday , May 12. “Planes, nuclear power plants, weapons” : anything goes for the US president, who reportedly told his advisors that he plans to announce deals worth more than $1 trillion.
Unlike his predecessors visiting the Middle East, Donald Trump hardly seems to have any major strategic objectives, the newspaper points out. Diplomacy is taking a back seat on this first major foreign trip since his return to power, confirms The Washington Post , even though the region is in the grip of burning issues: war in Gaza , Iranian nuclear power ... Significantly, Israel is not on the agenda of the tour which begins this May 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“The program is conveniently aligned with Donald Trump’s ever-expanding business plans,” the New York Times points out. “His family empire and close partners are making deals in the region at a brisk pace. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the three countries on the president’s itinerary, stand out for their enthusiasm for Tr
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