
What Gulf Nations Want From Trump’s Visit: Security, Tech, And Influence
As U.S. President Donald Trump visits key Gulf allies, each nation has its own agenda for deepening ties with Washington. Here’s a breakdown of what Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar are hoping to get from the U.S.: Saudi Arabia: Riyadh is looking for a stronger U.S. security commitment to Gulf stability, especially amid regional tensions. A U.S.-Saudi defense and trade deal nearly materialized last year but stalled over Saudi Arabia’s demand that Israel commit to a path toward Palestinian statehood. The kingdom is also pushing for U.S. cooperation on a civil nuclear program, but Washington has hesitated due to Riyadh’s desire to enrich uranium domestically—raising fears of nuclear weapons proliferation. If approved, U.S. firms could benefit from major contracts. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is trying to shift away from oil dependency but still relies on oil revenue to fund that transition. Trump’s calls for