As Trump heads to the Middle East, fixing explosive crises takes a back seat to deal-making
CBC
In the days before his trip overseas, U.S. President Donald Trump moved rapidly to tamp down a long list of potential distractions that could overshadow his hugely significant visit to the Middle East.
Help broker a shaky ceasefire between nuclear powers India and Pakistan. Check.
Outline a plan to feed starving Gaza, even though international humanitarian groups have deemed it unworkable and insufficient. Check.
And obtain a promise from Houthi militants to stop attacking western shipping in the Red Sea, even though missile launches against Israel continue. Check.
Given the chaotic nature of his presidency and the surreal speed at which global events seem to move with Trump in charge at the White House, the quick wins he's seeking may be fleeting.
Nonetheless, Trump is poised to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first big international trip of his second term at both a precarious and opportune time.
Around two million people in Gaza are at risk of starvation because of Israel's three-month-long blockade of the territory; sectarian violence in Syria has left that country teetering; and the spectre of a major war between Israel and Iran looms over the region.
And yet, Trump appears intent on parking — at least for this trip — some of those issues, preferring instead to focus on the region's boardrooms and investment forums rather than its battlefields.
Along with the stop in Riyadh, Trump will also visit two other stable, wealthy Gulf countries: Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He'll attend business gatherings, presumably ink contracts and attempt to drum up big bucks in a region that has money to spend.
"It's deals, deals, deals," said Neil Quilliam of Chatham House, a London-based think-tank.
"He seems to recognize the three Gulf countries ... as key partners for the U.S. and he's established very strong personal links, especially with [Saudi crown prince and de facto leader] Mohammed bin Salman."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, as he's known, has previously said his kingdom is prepared to invest more than $600 billion US in the United States during Trump's term as president.
The other Gulf countries have also anted up, giving the deal-obsessed president the irresistible possibility of boasting about landing over a trillion dollars in new business.
Notably, Trump has chosen to bypass Israel on his trip.
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