These days, as Trump journeys through the Middle East, online hype has reached a fever pitch: “The Americans are truly formidable! Trump’s mere presence has the Gulf states groveling, offering up piles of cash as tribute!” But is this portrayal accurate? At first glance, it seems plausible. The figures speak for themselves:
- Saudi Arabia has pledged a staggering $600 billion investment in the U.S., alongside a near $142 billion arms deal—the largest in history.
- The UAE has committed over $200 billion in cooperation spanning aviation, aluminum, and oil and gas sectors.
- Qatar has signed multiple agreements worth over $243.5 billion, including purchases of Boeing passenger jets and armed drones.
Combined, these commitments exceed $1 trillion. Yet, the grandstanding doesn’t stop there. Rumors suggest Trump has urged Saudi Arabia to increase its investment from $600 billion to a full $1 trillion. Some American media outlets are now clamoring that total investments from both governments and private sectors during Trump’s Middle East tour might surpass a mind-blowing $3.2 trillion! These staggering numbers are enough to make anyone’s eyes bulge with greed. Trump himself is brimming with pride. In a Fox News interview, he boasted, “I’ve always regarded the Middle East as a region of paramount importance. China once vigorously courted them, as this could permanently secure its fuel supply. Though not their first choice, they were inching closer to China. But my visit has completely turned the tables. I’m convinced that such a scenario is now unthinkable! It’s me, Trump, who has pulled off this magnificent turnaround!”
Reading this, one can’t help but marvel at Trump’s self-proclaimed magnificence and wonder if he’s a divine savior. Yet, behind these awe-inspiring figures, many seem to have forgotten a crucial word: “pledge.” A pledge is merely a promise—a promise that can be kept or broken. Moreover, has Trump even bothered to scrutinize the economic and fiscal capabilities of the Gulf states he’s visited? Saudi Arabia’s GDP barely exceeds $1 trillion; Qatar’s stands at a mere $200-plus billion. The UAE, despite achieving a record-high GDP of $439.9 billion in 2024, has a fiscal revenue of only $19.5 billion, barely balancing its budget without incurring losses. Where is it supposed to find the funds to invest in the U.S.?
All three nations are feudal monarchies that rely on distributing welfare to their citizens to maintain their rule. With international oil prices on a downward trend, even if their表面 appearances are splendid and their promises grand, what happens when they fail to deliver? It will all turn out to be a futile endeavor, leaving behind nothing but empty fanfare. This is not mere conjecture. Let’s not forget what happened during Trump’s first term. Back in 2017, he signed an $110-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, covering missile defense systems, warships, fighter jets, and more. At the time, Trump touted it as a historic package and claimed that Saudi Arabia would purchase $350 billion worth of U.S. weaponry over the next decade. Throughout his first term, he repeatedly highlighted this deal, dubbing himself the world’s top salesman. Eight years on, how much of this agreement has been fulfilled? Delivered arms amount to less than $50 billion, and the $350-billion figure Trump boasted about for 2027 remains a pipe dream. Ironically, during his recent Middle East trip, Trump conveniently forgot about his past braggadocio.
From this, it’s clear that Trump’s Middle East tour, despite its apparent buzz, is fundamentally a grand spectacle—a theatrical performance where all parties are in on the act. The Gulf states know it’s a performance, Trump is aware of it too, but everyone plays along to keep the show running. After all, Trump’s term is only four years. Could such massive sums be realistically achieved within that timeframe? Certainly not! What happened to the 2017 agreement? It serves as a perfect example. For now, Trump’s sole focus is on “winning.” So, he inflates the numbers to make “America First” look mightier and more triumphant. After all, for thousands of years, the “camel uncles” of the Middle East haven’t just bred camels; they’ve been shrewd businessmen with a deep understanding of human nature.
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