Trump embarks on official Middle East Visit
Donald Trump is heading to the Middle East, marking his first official visit as U.S. president this term.
What do you need to know?
- Donald Trump is heading to the Middle East on Tuesday
- The American president will visit three countries during the trip: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar
- The central theme of the visit is expected to be security
The U.S. president is expected to land in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Subsequent visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will continue until May 16.
U.S.-Gulf relations have significantly improved since Trump returned to office.
From the Middle Eastern perspective, there's an opportunity to strengthen ties with Washington and even "secure greater privileges in their relationship with the world's most powerful nation," stated Ebtesam AlKetbi, founder and president of the Emirates Policy Center think tank in Abu Dhabi.
Security is the goal of the visit
"Security, security, and more security," stated the needs of Saudi Arabia, Ali Shihabi, an author and commentator on Saudi Arabian politics and economics, in an interview with CNN.
"Gulf States are looking for reassurance of the US security commitment to the Gulf’s stability," he added.
