Following his reentry onto the global political stage, U.S. President Donald Trump has embarked on a controversial trip to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Officially framed as an effort to bolster economic and security cooperation and explore major investment opportunities, the trip in practice has become a platform for reviving backchannel roles, promoting contentious plans such as the “Gaza Plan,” and fueling speculation about the prioritization of Trump’s personal interests in foreign policy.
One of the central pillars of Trump’s foreign policy has consistently been based on economic exchanges and lucrative deals. The Persian Gulf states, with their massive sovereign wealth funds and ambitious economic diversification programs (like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030), represent attractive partners for the Trump administration.
During this visit, intensive negotiations are expected to take place to secure major investments from these countries in the United States, especially in the infrastructure, technology, and energy sectors. Conversely, American companies are also seeking a larger share in the massive development projects within the region.
Trump is likely to use political and security guarantees as leverage to encourage these countries to invest further and sign large-scale trade deals, including arms contracts. While this approach may yield short-term economic gains for the U.S., critics are concerned that human rights and democratic values may be sidelined in favor of financial deals.
A particularly controversial aspect of the trip is the revival of the so-called “Gaza Plan,” first proposed during Trump’s presidency under the guidance of his son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner. According to this plan, the Gaza Strip would undergo economic stabilization through foreign investments, in exchange for Palestinian factions reducing their military and political influence.
Kushner is reportedly holding closed-door meetings with officials from the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to discuss the creation of a “Gaza Development Fund” with an initial capital of $10 billion. However, many analysts see this plan as merely a cover for the geopolitical objectives of the U.S. and the Israeli regime—namely reducing Iranian influence in Gaza and creating divisions among Palestinian resistance groups.
In this context, some Arab nations, including Jordan and Egypt, are approaching the plan with skepticism. Egypt’s foreign minister has warned that any action in Gaza without coordination with legitimate Palestinian entities would only lead to further instability.
Countering Iranian influence in the region was a key priority during Trump’s first term, and it is expected that this agenda will continue with even greater intensity. His visits to Saudi Arabia and the UAE present opportunities to strengthen existing security alliances and establish new frameworks for regional cooperation. These efforts could include:
Increasing sales of advanced weaponry, especially to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to boost their defense capabilities against what is portrayed as Iranian threats.
Expanding intelligence cooperation to monitor Iran’s activities and those of anti-U.S. groups.
Conducting joint military exercises to enhance coordination and demonstrate deterrence capabilities.
Attempting to form a regional security structure with the participation of Arab countries and Israel to jointly counter Iran.
Qatar, with its more nuanced relationship with Iran, plays a distinct role in this puzzle. Trump is likely to use Qatar as a mediator in certain issues while simultaneously pressuring the country to reduce its ties with Iran.
Jared Kushner, who played a key role in advancing Trump’s Middle East policies during his previous term—especially the Abraham Accords and negotiations with Saudi Arabia—founded the investment firm “Affinity Partners” after leaving the White House. A significant portion of its capital (around $2 billion) was provided by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. These deep financial ties have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest between personal gain and national interests.
Kushner is expected to once again play a crucial behind-the-scenes role, particularly in negotiations with Saudi and Emirati leaders. From Trump’s perspective, Kushner’s ability to build personal rapport with powerful regional figures is an asset. However, critics fear that these relationships may serve personal rather than national interests, advancing business ventures linked to the Trump and Kushner families. Ensuring transparency in these negotiations and clearly separating public from private interests remains a significant challenge.
One of the persistent criticisms of Trump’s foreign policy—especially in dealings with wealthy Gulf states—is the potential prioritization of personal and family business interests over long-term U.S. strategic goals. Investments by companies linked to Trump in the region—or those by regional countries in businesses connected to his family—have long been met with suspicion.
This trip has only heightened such concerns. Analysts believe Trump may be willing to compromise core principles of American foreign policy, such as human rights and democratic values, in exchange for personal or familial economic gains. Such an approach could damage U.S. credibility on the global stage and confuse its traditional allies.
In conclusion, Donald Trump’s trip to the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia presents a mixture of opportunities and challenges for both the United States and the Middle East. While attracting major investments and strengthening security cooperation to counter Iranian influence are clear objectives, pursuing the Gaza Plan without regard for Palestinian rights and involving figures like Jared Kushner with deeply entangled financial interests could increase regional tensions.
Above all, the persistent concern over the dominance of personal interests in foreign policy casts a heavy shadow over the final assessment of this diplomatic maneuver. The success or failure of this trip will depend not only on short-term economic and security achievements but also on its long-term consequences for regional stability and America’s global reputation.
*Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written by Mohammad Saleh Ghorbani
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