Donald Trump has continued his tour of the Center East with a cease in Qatar, marking the primary time a United States president has made an official state go to to the Gulf nation.
However simply earlier than he boarded Air Drive One to fly into the Qatari capital of Doha, Trump made historical past in one other method: He took his first-ever meeting with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Wednesday marked the midway level in Trump’s four-day journey, which included a gap cease in Saudi Arabia and can conclude within the United Arab Emirates.
And as along with his different stops, Trump underscored warming relations and increasing enterprise ties with leaders from Syria and Qatar — although, again dwelling within the US, the Democratic Social gathering raised considerations about how the Republican chief’s private pursuits is perhaps guiding his closed-door conversations.
Listed here are the important thing takeaways from Wednesday’s conferences and stops.
A high-profile assembly in Saudi Arabia
Earlier than setting off for Qatar, Trump took some of the extremely anticipated conferences of his complete journey: a sit-down with Syrian President al-Sharaa.
It was the primary time in almost 1 / 4 century that the highest leaders from Syria and the US met nose to nose. And the assembly was extraordinary for quite a lot of causes: Till December, the US had supplied a $10m reward for al-Sharaa’s seize.
It continues to checklist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the armed group al-Sharaa led throughout Syria’s civil struggle, as a “overseas terrorist organisation”, resulting from its previous ties with al-Qaeda.
However since a coalition led by HTS toppled the federal government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December, the US has been reevaluating its relationship with the group and its management.
The toppling of al-Assad’s authorities introduced an finish to Syria’s 13-year-long civil struggle, and al-Assad — lengthy accused of human rights abuses — fled to Russia.
Within the lead-up to Wednesday’s assembly with al-Sharaa, Trump introduced that he would elevate the sanctions towards Syria put in place throughout al-Assad’s management, a growth that al-Sharaa’s authorities praised as an financial boon and a step in the direction of stability.
On Wednesday, al-Sharaa joined Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for an in-person assembly, whereas Turkiye’s President Recep Erdogan joined by cellphone.
Trump “informed President Al-Sharaa that he has an amazing alternative to do one thing historic in his nation”, based on a read-out from the White Home. He additionally inspired Syria to expel “overseas terrorists” and “Palestinian terrorists” from its borders, in addition to normalise relations with Israel.
The read-out added that al-Sharaa stated he shared the US’s pursuits in “countering terrorism and eliminating chemical weapons”. He additionally inspired the US to put money into Syria’s petroleum sector.
Later, as he boarded Air Drive One for Qatar, reporters requested Trump to share his first impressions of al-Sharaa.
“Nice. I feel excellent. Younger, enticing man. Robust man. Robust previous. Very robust previous. Fighter. He’s obtained an actual shot at pulling it collectively,” Trump replied.
A red-carpet arrival in Qatar
Pomp and circumstance have greeted Trump all through his Center East journey thus far, and his arrival in Qatar was no exception.
Even earlier than Air Drive One touched down within the Qatari capital of Doha, the pageantry of the go to — Trump’s first worldwide tour of his second time period — was on full show.
As he entered Qatar’s airspace, White Home Communications Adviser Margo Martin posted video on-line of F-15 fighter jets on both aspect of Air Drive One, “offering honorary escort” to the president.
A purple carpet greeted Trump as he touched down in Qatar. The nation’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was available to welcome him. And a ceremonial guard, driving atop white horses and camels, trotted alongside his motorcade as he was transported to the positioning of his state go to.
“We’re extraordinarily honoured to have you ever right here. We’re very excited, very completely satisfied. It’s a historic go to,” Al Thani stated. “I don’t know if that you simply’re the primary American president to formally go to Qatar. So we’re very honoured.”
Al Jazeera’s White Home correspondent Kimberly Halkett, who has been following the US president’s journey, stated the opulence of Trump’s tour thus far has been a promoting level to his home audiences.
“ People cherished the pomp and pageantry. They discovered it attention-grabbing to see the state dinner with the camels and to see a few of the tea and occasional ceremonies,” Halkett stated.
Even Trump marvelled on the decor contained in the Amiri Diwan, the federal government centre of Qatar, calling the marble “perfect-o”.
A deal to spice up commerce and defence
Trump’s White Home has described the president because the “dealmaker in chief”, and every cease thus far on his four-day tour has culminated within the announcement of a serious enterprise cope with the US.
Wednesday’s go to to Qatar was no exception.
The White Home introduced that the US and Qatar had inked offers value at the very least $1.2 trillion, together with a serious transaction which might see Qatar Airways purchase 210 plane from the US firm Boeing.
That deal alone was value $96bn, based on a authorities fact sheet. Nonetheless, that was an adjustment downward from a better determine Trump talked about in the course of the journey, $200bn.
“It’s the biggest order of jets within the historical past of Boeing. That’s fairly good,” Trump stated as he signed paperwork alongside Emir Al Thani.
In a gesture to his fellow chief, Trump added: “ We’ve been pals for a very long time, lengthy earlier than politics.”
Different components of the deal included purchases of drone and anti-drone know-how from US defence firms like Raytheon and investments within the US vitality sector.
“I feel, after signing these paperwork, we’re going to one other degree of relationship between Qatar and the USA,” Al Thani stated, thanking Trump.
Democrats criticise conflicts of curiosity
However again within the US, Trump’s cease in Qatar continued to lift eyebrows amongst his critics, notably within the Democratic Social gathering.
The weekend earlier than his journey, Trump confronted controversy over reviews that his Division of Defence would settle for a luxurious Boeing jet value $400m from Qatar, dubbed a “palace within the sky”.
Such a present would have been one of many largest within the historical past of the presidency. And critics warned it raised moral and authorized considerations, given the Structure’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the federal authorities from accepting presents from overseas governments with out prior approval from Congress.
Nonetheless, Trump defended the concept on social media. He known as the aircraft a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE” that was made “in a really public and clear transaction”.
He additionally walked again media reviews that he would use the plane as private transport after leaving workplace. Sources indicated the aircraft was more likely to be decommissioned after Trump left workplace and despatched to his presidential library.
Finally, in Wednesday’s assembly with Emir Al Thani, the jet was not talked about. It’s unclear whether or not the alternate will proceed.
The Democratic Nationwide Committee however introduced it deliberate to fly a banner over Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to coincide along with his Qatar go to, emblazoned with the phrase “Qatar-a-Lago”.
Journalists on Air Drive One pressed the president about one other potential battle of curiosity.
One reporter requested Trump a few deal that might see an funding agency within the United Arab Emirates — the following cease on his tour — purchase giant sums of cryptocurrency from an organization run by his household. The deal is reportedly value $2bn.
“I actually don’t know something about it,” Trump replied. “However I’m a giant crypto fan. I’ll inform you, I’ve been that from the start, proper from the marketing campaign. I’m a believer in crypto.”
Trump is scheduled to journey to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, earlier than returning to the US on Friday.
