American President Donald Trump (picture) will travel to Saudi Arabia and Israel this month as part of his first foreign trip, wading directly into the tangled diplomacy of Middle Eastern politics, a senior administration official said last night.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration has resumed the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia, which was halted under the Obama administration due to human rights concerns over their use in Yemen. "And to embrace a more just and hopeful future for young Muslims in their countries", Trump said.
Trump's unpredictable positions can be an asset in foreign policy since they keep allies and foes alike slightly off-balance and uncertain as to what exactly he will do, the officials said.
"It will lead to, we believe, enhanced cooperation between the USA and Arab and Islamic countries in combating terrorism and extremism and it will change the conversation with regards to America's relationship with the Arab and Islamic world".
The swing through the Middle East, added to a trip that includes a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting in Brussels on May 25 and the Group of Seven summit in Sicily on May 26, suggests Trump is seeking to reinforce alliances with top United States allies in the region.
There, Trump will meet with leaders from across in the Gulf and broader Middle East in the hope of curbing terror groups and Iran's growing regional clout.
With Trump looking to broker a Mideast peace deal, he does not want to appear too biased in favor of Israel, which could be implied if his visit were to coincide with Israel's marking of the Six Day War, the report said.
Apple CEO Cook Discloses $1 Billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund
Cook stopped short of saying Apple would bring some of its cash back into the United States if Trump's tax proposal was enacted. With sales slowing for Apple in the U.S. and China, investors are looking to see if growth in India can compensate for this.
Channel Two said that the timing of the visit will present President Trump as leaning towards Israel's side in his "peace process" efforts.
"I don't think this administration is about rhetoric".
Speaking Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he believed the trip will help rebut impressions that Trump is anti-Islam.
"We find a lot of alignment between President Trump and the leaders of the Arab world", an official said. One official told Breitbart New that, for years, Israel received blame for unrest in the Middle East, but now more countries are willing to accept that "this catastrophe has been brought on by the twin effects of these Salafi jihadist organizations associated with Al Qaeda, Al Nusra, so forth, as well as ISIS and also the Iranian efforts of subversion and support for militias...murderous regimes across the region". "We are happy to host President Trump at any time".
One of the people with knowledge of the sales said that as planning for Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia intensified in recent weeks, the arms negotiations also accelerated. "He is willing to leave behind old policies and create new ones".
A senior aide did not rule out the possibility of a presidential stop in the West Bank, but said that it is likely to be contingent on security and Abbas taking concrete steps toward peace.
Comments