President Donald Trump has returned to Washington after his first significant international tour of his second term, culminating in noteworthy agreements.
The accords established in the Middle East are historic for both the United States and its regional partners. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar have pledged to increase their investments in the U.S., reflecting initiatives that Trump has advocated for globally.
President Donald Trump, left, meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
TRUMP COMMENDS SAUDI ARABIA DURING HIS INITIAL STOPS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Saudi Arabia
In his visit, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump finalized various agreements in sectors like energy, investment, defense, and mining, amounting to a total of $600 billion. Noteworthy is a commitment from tech giants Google, Uber, Salesforce, and AMD, alongside Saudi Arabia’s DataVolt, to invest $80 billion in pioneering technologies in both nations.
American enterprises will undertake significant projects within Saudi Arabia, which include the construction of King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, The Vault, and Qiddiya City, per announcements from the White House. These initiatives are forecasted to generate around $2 billion in U.S. service exports.
Moreover, U.S. governmental departments are set to collaborate with Saudi state ministries, involving the Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, as well as NASA and the Saudi Space Agency.
Trump also secured an agreement enabling the U.S. to transport cargo between Saudi Arabia and other countries without needing to pass through the U.S., termed as “a vital right for cargo hub operations” by the White House.
President Donald Trump participates in a business forum at Qasr Al Watan during the conclusion of his Gulf visit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on May 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Amr Alfiky)
TRUMP’S SIGNIFICANT UAE VISIT AS THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT IN NEARLY 30 YEARS
2. Qatar
The agreements made with Qatar were arguably the most contentious during the trip, with both political parties expressing concerns over a proposal for Doha to supply a jumbo jet intended for Air Force One.
Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., found themselves aligned against this plan, albeit for different reasons. Sanders raised questions about the legality of the administration accepting the aircraft from Qatar, while Cruz pointed to “significant espionage and surveillance issues.” Additionally, Senators Rick Scott, R-Fla., and John Kennedy, R-La., voiced their skepticism towards Doha.
“In my view, Qatar is not a strong ally. They support Hamas, which raises my concerns about the president’s safety,” Scott remarked to the press on Tuesday.
The agreements brokered during this visit are projected to bring Qatar and Washington together for deals valued at $1.2 trillion, alongside economic partnerships amounting to $243.5 billion that include the procurement of American-made aircraft for Qatar Airways.
The White House also highlighted a defense agreement aimed at securing Qatar’s acquisition of advanced military technologies from two leading U.S. defense firms. Additionally, both nations have committed to a multibillion-dollar initiative to strengthen their security collaboration.
President Donald Trump meets with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, on May 14, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
STATE DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZES SALE OF $1.4B IN HELICOPTERS AND F-16 PARTS TO UAE PRIOR TO TRUMP’S VISIT
3. United Arab Emirates
Trump concluded his visit to the UAE with $200 billion in commercial commitments, which includes $14.5 billion from Etihad Airways towards the purchase of 28 American-built aircraft. Moreover, Emirates Global Aluminum is expected to invest $4 billion into an aluminum smelting project in Oklahoma, marking one of the first new smelters constructed in the U.S. in the last 45 years, according to White House reports.
The UAE and the U.S. have also finalized energy agreements that entail a collaboration between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and EOG Resources to enhance oil and natural gas production. The White House indicated that this deal is anticipated to “lower energy costs and generate numerous skilled jobs in both nations.”
The agreements reached during Trump’s trip to Abu Dhabi are poised to accelerate a commitment from the UAE made earlier in March regarding a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment strategy in the U.S., encompassing various sectors, including energy and artificial intelligence.