Trump Secures Saudi Investment, Urges Abraham Accords

President Donald Trump returned to Washington after a Middle East tour where he secured over $600 billion in Saudi investment commitments and major tech and defense deals, including Boeing jet orders and NVIDIA semiconductor partnerships. Despite the economic successes and lavish receptions, Trump did not achieve diplomatic breakthroughs in the Gaza or Ukraine conflicts. He praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and urged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, while criticizing President Biden for not expanding the normalization agreements. The trip also generated controversy over Trump's acceptance of a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar, drawing bipartisan scrutiny in the U.S. for ethical and security reasons. Analysts observed that Trump prioritized economic gains and personal relationships over human rights issues and traditional diplomatic values. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia faces economic headwinds due to falling oil prices, a fracturing OPEC+, and declining Chinese demand.