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The fulfillment of Trumps dreams

  • Batool Subeiti Batool Subeiti
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 21 May 2025 13:33
5 Min Read

Batool Subeiti unpacks Trump’s Middle East tour, revealing how economic deals, Gulf realignments, and Syria's future were shaped to serve U.S. strategic dominance over sovereignty or stability.

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  • In essence, Trump's visit underscores a new regional order: economically driven, strategically calculated, and reflective of shifting power dynamics in West Asia. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)
    In essence, Trump's visit underscores a new regional order: economically driven, strategically calculated, and reflective of shifting power dynamics in West Asia. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

 

Trump's visit to the Middle East concluded with astronomical investment commitments, estimated at $3 to $4 trillion, primarily pledged from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. These deals, sealed in grand ceremonial events, reflect what can be described as unprecedented, extraordinary displays of political submission, more than Trump could have dreamed of. Given that the US GDP stands at approximately $27 trillion, these agreements represent nearly 15% of that figure, showcasing Trump’s business-centric approach: aggressively securing lucrative deals to reinforce America's economic standing.

Trump sees himself not merely as a national leader but as a global figurehead. His vision for America involves reasserting the US dominance through economic leverage. This is evident in his strategy of raising tariffs to incentivize domestic manufacturing, thereby reducing reliance on imports. A weaker dollar, something Trump has favored, boosts the competitiveness of US exports globally, aligning with his goal of positioning America as a leading exporter. He believes that without a solid economic foundation, US global influence is unsustainable, particularly considering China's rise. For Trump, economic strength must underpin America's geopolitical power.

During the trip, major deals were struck involving Boeing aircraft, US defense systems, and technology agreements. These moves are designed to stimulate the domestic defense industry, create thousands of jobs, and re-establish America as a manufacturing hub. Trump's visit to the US airbase in Al-Udeid, Qatar, reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining military installations only in strategically critical locations as a foreign military strategy. Trump was opposed to expansive funding for NGOs or covert operations often associated with the deep state, slashing USAID when he first came to office. Trump’s "America First" slogan translates into prioritizing internal economic strength while leveraging global influence by imposing orders.

In a controversial move, Trump also met with de facto Syrian president Al-Sharaa, a figure with a history of ties to Al-Qaeda, and someone the American deep state had previously portrayed as an ally in Syria. Since Assad’s overthrow had been set in motion by the deep state before Trump assumed office,  he was unwilling to withdraw from the region whilst Syria remained part of the Resistance axis.

Although Trump has previously condemned such groups on the terrorism list, he appeared to overlook Al-Sharaa’s past, in addition to having assumed power without elections and established a parliament outside any legal framework. The meeting comes in the context of ultimate submission and fulfillment of American demands: Al-Sharaa’s leadership in exchange for facilitating normalization with the entity and implementing US security demands. The secret services of the Israeli occupation entity were already directly involved in the interrogation of Palestinian leaders such as Talal Naji inside Syria.

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Trump’s engagement signals de facto recognition of a new Syrian leadership aligned with American interests, even if it emerged through unfavorable means to someone like Trump. He prefers a Gulf-backed Syrian government over one influenced by Turkey. However, by the time he took office, the political outcome in Syria had already been shaped.

The most important aspect of Trump’s trip regarding Syria was to give Saudi Arabia the role of sponsoring the Syrian file, away from Qatar. Therefore, sponsorship for the Syrian file is within the balance of interests between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Israeli occupation entity, with the regional leadership handed to Mohammad Bin Salman. This is in preparation for shaping the Syrian future, which is yet to be determined and can go in any direction.

Despite Saudi concerns over former Al-Qaeda groups gaining power in Syria, due to the potential threat to its own stability, the kingdom’s sponsorship underscores that these groups serve functional Western interests. The motivations of groups like Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham appear more power-driven than ideological, whether Islamic or linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Syrian government today remains unstable, acting more as a tool for foreign interests than a sovereign entity. Its internal divisions, contradictory agendas, and reliance on external sponsors increase the divergences, making it unreliable and hard to control. Western sanctions are being lifted not due to a recognition of a strengthened Syria that cannot be overcome, but as a concession extracted through submission.

Trump’s Middle East tour helped clarify the Gulf states’ expanding regional roles and their strategic alignments. Syria’s fate is now tethered to the broader regional landscape, shaped by Saudi and Turkish influence and complicated further by the uncertain role of the Israeli occupation entity.

In the face of a strengthening Gulf and weakening Israeli occupation entity in the face of its failure to achieve its goals, Resistance movements are now being acknowledged as enduring actors that must be negotiated with, not ignored. Trump has acknowledged the American defeat in the face of Yemen’s bravery, the issue of Gaza remains unsolved, and a nuclear deal has yet to be reached with Iran, despite Trump making positive indication about its potentiality.

In essence, Trump's visit underscores a new regional order: economically driven, strategically calculated, and reflective of shifting power dynamics in West Asia.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Syria
  • Turkey
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • Israel
  • Donald Trump
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United States
Batool Subeiti

Batool Subeiti

Energy Engineer and political analyst based in London, UK.

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