Mohamad Elmasry, a media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, spoke to Al Jazeera about Donald Trump’s recent four-day tour of the Middle East, highlighting the significant opportunities it presents for Arab states to enhance their influence in the United States political landscape.
Elmasry noted that Arab nations are beginning to recognize potential avenues to gain a foothold in American politics, influence long dominated by Israel.
He stated, “They recognize that they could gain influence inside of the American political apparatus, influence that has been reserved largely for Israel.”
The absence of Israel from Trump’s current itinerary, which includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, raises questions about the future dynamics of US-Israel relations.
Elmasry remarked on the Trump administration’s trend of bypassing Israel, referencing recent negotiations with groups like Hamas and the Houthis, and potential discussions around lifting sanctions against Syria.
He added, “Israel’s very upset about all of these things, and they’ve communicated that to the United States, and it’s created a kind of tension.”
In a letter released by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, a group representing individuals taken captive by Hamas and other factions, 65 former captives urged both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue negotiations for the release of those still held hostage.
The letter began with the sentiment, “We, the survivors of the captivity who were kidnapped on October 7 through the state’s negligence, are happy and welcome the release of the kidnapped Edan Alexander,” referring to an Israeli-American soldier released following negotiations led by the US.
The group expressed hope that the Israeli government would seize the current climate as a chance to return to dialogue, stating, “We ask you, all those involved, not to leave until a comprehensive deal is signed.”
Despite this call for negotiation, Netanyahu has remained adamant in his refusal to engage with Hamas after resuming military actions in Gaza following a brief ceasefire in March.
In a notable economic development, Saudi Aramco has unveiled an ambitious plan, announcing 34 preliminary deals with major US corporations that could be valued at approximately $90 billion.
This announcement is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to deepen its commercial ties with the US and attract foreign investment, crucial for balancing its oil sector dominance with a push for industrial and technological growth under its Vision 2030 initiative.
Amin Nasser, the CEO of Aramco, remarked, “The US is really a good place to put our investment,” speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh.
The agreements include collaborations with US liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer NextDecade and utility company Sempra, as well as a memorandum of understanding with ExxonMobil to enhance the SAMREF refinery into a significant integrated petrochemical complex.
Aramco also entered into a nonbinding agreement with Amazon Web Services to work on digital transformation and initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Nasser commented on the evolution of Aramco’s operations in the US, which now encompass multipronged research and development initiatives, investments in the Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, and ongoing procurement activities.
As a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s economy, Aramco plays a pivotal role in generating government revenue through oil exports, thereby funding the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Moving to Tehran, Trump expressed optimism regarding diplomatic efforts relating to Iran’s nuclear program, despite affirming a firm approach towards sanctions enforcement.
During his first visit to the Middle East since regaining office, Trump discussed Iran with Qatari leaders, who maintain ties with both the US and Iran, saying, “It’s been really an interesting situation. I have a feeling it’s going to work out.”
The Trump administration has so far conducted four rounds of discussions with Tehran in an effort to prevent a potential Israeli military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The White House announced that recent agreements made during Trump’s visit to Qatar, including a statement of intent, are expected to generate economic exchanges worth at least $1.2 trillion.
The agreements purportedly include $243.5 billion in economic deals encompassing purchases by Qatar Airways from Boeing, weapons acquisitions, and initiatives related to natural gas and quantum technologies.
Additionally, the US and Qatar’s statement of intent features over $38 billion in potential investments, which aim to support burden-sharing at Al Udeid Air Base and future defense capabilities in air and maritime security.
While some components of the stated economic exchanges remain unclear, the Trump administration highlighted various pre-existing agreements between the two nations.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/5/14/donald-trump-live-president-to-lift-syria-sanctions-heads-to-qatar-next
