Trump secures mega-deals in Gulf tour amid Syria sanctions shift

[MIDDLE EAST] In the opening leg of a four-day tour through the Gulf, former U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Saudi Arabia to seal a landmark $142 billion arms agreement, which the White House hailed as the “largest defense sales agreement in history.” The sweeping deal was positioned as a triumph of Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, with the former president focused on striking major economic and security agreements in the region.

The arms package reinforces Riyadh’s enduring dependence on U.S. military hardware at a time of heightened regional instability and mounting tensions with Iran. Defense analysts say the agreement cements Saudi Arabia’s role as America’s top arms purchaser, with key components likely including advanced missile defense systems and next-generation fighter aircraft. Critics, however, warn the deal could further exacerbate conflict zones, particularly in Yemen, where Saudi-led forces have faced repeated allegations of causing civilian casualties.

While in the region, Trump is also set to meet with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa—a former rebel commander who ousted Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Their upcoming informal meeting would mark the first direct talks between a U.S. president and a Syrian leader since Bill Clinton met Hafez al-Assad in Geneva in 2000.

Speaking at an investment conference on Tuesday, Trump announced intentions to lift longstanding sanctions on Syria following discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump declared.

The potential reversal marks a major shift in U.S. policy, easing restrictions that have been in place since the Assad regime’s early days. While the move could unlock major foreign investment in Syria’s battered economy, human rights groups caution that accountability for past abuses remains unresolved.

In an apparent bid to curry favor with Trump, Sharaa’s administration has reportedly offered access to Syrian oil, lucrative reconstruction deals, and even the opportunity to build a Trump Tower in Damascus, in exchange for sanctions relief.

“This is amazing, it worked,” said Radwan Ziadeh, a Syrian activist with close ties to the government, sharing a mock-up image of the proposed tower. He suggested Sharaa would personally present the design to Trump during their meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The Trump-branded real estate proposal has raised eyebrows among ethics watchdogs. Though sitting presidents are not explicitly barred from pursuing private business deals, experts say the optics of such an offer—particularly one tied to diplomatic negotiations—raise serious ethical concerns.

The visit centered heavily on business, with Trump seeking quick political and economic wins. Over lunch, Crown Prince Mohammed pledged an ambitious $600 billion investment in the U.S., including $20 billion for AI-focused data centers, $14.2 billion in energy equipment, nearly $5 billion in Boeing 737-8 aircraft, and other ventures. However, specifics remained unclear, and some of the announced projects reportedly began under the Biden administration.

According to the White House, the arms agreement will involve more than a dozen U.S. defense firms providing services and equipment across sectors including air and missile defense, border security, and space capabilities—a notable inclusion reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in satellite and space technology. Riyadh has recently forged partnerships with private aerospace companies, including SpaceX.

Trump was welcomed in Riyadh with considerable pomp, including an escort of F-15 fighter jets and a royal reception at Al Yamamah Palace. He met with King Salman in the presence of top business leaders, including Elon Musk, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and CEOs from IBM, BlackRock, Citigroup, Palantir, and Nvidia.

When Prince Mohammed pledged the $600 billion investment, Trump reportedly smiled and quipped, “It should be a trillion.”

The trip reflects a broader reshaping of Middle East diplomacy under Trump’s “America First” doctrine, which prioritizes U.S. economic and security gains over traditional alliances and norms. Critics say this approach has empowered a tight circle of Trump-aligned businessmen, many of whom have financial ties to Gulf states, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.

Perhaps the most controversial symbol of this new era of diplomacy is a proposed gift from Qatar’s royal family: a customized Boeing 747-8 that could serve as a future Air Force One before being donated to Trump’s presidential library. The offer has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, with one lawmaker calling it “the most valuable gift ever conferred on a president by a foreign government.”

Trump has defended the gesture, saying it would temporarily replace the aging Air Force One fleet in a “very public and transparent transaction,” dismissing critics as “World Class Losers!!!” on social media.

The Trump-Salman summit stood in sharp contrast to previous U.S.-Saudi meetings overshadowed by the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This time, the tone was celebratory and business-oriented.

However, one major objective—Saudi recognition of Israel—remains elusive. Trump acknowledged that efforts to expand the Abraham Accords would take time, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

“It will be a special day in the Middle East, with the whole world watching, when Saudi Arabia joins us,” Trump said. “But you’ll do it in your own time.”

After Saudi Arabia, Trump is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. His talks have largely revolved around investment, which insiders suggest influenced his decision to soften on Syria.

In a sweeping proposal to normalize ties with the U.S., Sharaa reportedly offered not just the Trump Tower project, but also a demilitarized zone near the Golan Heights that would bolster Israeli territorial claims, official recognition of Israel by Syria, and a revenue-sharing arrangement akin to previous mineral deals in Ukraine.

Sources say the real estate idea was originally pitched by a Republican senator and quickly adopted by Sharaa’s advisors. “Sanctions in Syria are very complicated, but with Trump, he can lift most of them,” Ziadeh said. “It is a great opportunity.”

Notably, Trump has opted to skip a visit to Israel—Washington’s closest regional ally—amid a strained relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and escalating violence in Gaza. On the eve of Trump’s arrival in the Gulf, Hamas released the last remaining American hostage, Edan Alexander, reportedly in hopes that Trump would pressure Netanyahu to end the war.

Yet Netanyahu struck a defiant tone on Tuesday, vowing to continue military operations. “There will be no situation where we stop the war,” he said, promising a full-force campaign to defeat Hamas in the coming days.