Trump welcomes Qatar’s PM for private dinner, meets Bahrain crown prince

Department of Research, Studies and International News 15-07-2025

In a calculated show of diplomacy cloaked in opulence, U.S. President Donald Trump recently hosted high-level Gulf leaders in Washington as part of a broader effort to solidify economic and military alliances in the region, despite growing criticism over America’s destabilizing role in West Asia. The visit marks the latest step in Trump’s renewed focus on Gulf monarchies, with particular attention to countries aligned with U.S. strategic and economic interests, regardless of their human rights records or involvement in regional conflicts.

On Wednesday, Trump privately hosted Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and a senior member of its ruling family, for a dinner behind closed doors. The meeting followed earlier talks in the White House’s Oval Office with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Though the meetings were officially framed around efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, little tangible progress was presented on that front. Instead, discussions appeared to revolve around business deals, military cooperation, and solidifying ties with authoritarian Gulf regimes, alliances long favored by Washington for their wealth and strategic leverage.

Trump’s emphasis on deepening ties with these Gulf nations coincides with his first foreign policy tour of his second term, which included stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in mid-May. The tour, more symbolic than substantive in terms of conflict resolution, showcased lavish receptions, including Trump’s visit to Qatar’s palaces and Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military hub in the region.

The base, however, has been at the heart of recent tensions. It was targeted by Iranian missiles following an American airstrike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, a reckless move that risked further escalation in the region. While most of the missiles were intercepted, one struck the base just hours before a temporary ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israel-Iran standoff, underscoring the fragile and volatile nature of Washington’s military presence in the Middle East.

Behind the diplomatic handshakes and smiles, the visit resulted in agreements estimated at over $1.2 trillion. Among these, Qatar Airways signed a deal to purchase 210 aircraft from U.S. manufacturer Boeing. Additional transactions were struck for drone and anti-drone technologies from American defense giants like Raytheon, along with energy sector investments in the U.S.

Perhaps the most controversial outcome of the visit was Trump’s expressed desire to use a Boeing 747 jet reportedly donated by Qatar as the next Air Force One, a decision drawing criticism over national security risks and ethical concerns tied to accepting luxury gifts from foreign governments.

Aaron David Miller, a former advisor to both Republican and Democratic administrations, summarized Trump’s Gulf policy as one of personal comfort and transactional diplomacy. “The Gulf represents everything Trump likes about the Middle East,” he noted. “It’s rich, stable, and ruled by authoritarians, leaders he feels at ease with.”

During his earlier meeting with Bahrain’s crown prince, Trump reaffirmed the close U.S.-Bahrain relationship, boasting mutual support and cooperation. Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, plays a central role in maintaining Washington’s military footprint in the Persian Gulf, often under the pretext of “security,” but in reality aimed at containing regional powers like Iran.

Prince Salman, mirroring Trump’s tone, emphasized the financial magnitude of their cooperation. “These are not symbolic commitments,” he said. “It’s real capital. Not fiction.” The deals reportedly include the purchase of aircraft, jet engines, and computer systems, with future investments being considered in sectors such as aluminum production and artificial intelligence.

On the sidelines of these engagements, an agreement was also signed to deepen collaboration between the U.S. and Bahrain in the field of civilian nuclear energy, raising concerns among independent observers about the potential for dual-use technology in a region already grappling with nuclear tensions.

Bahrain’s monarch, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is scheduled to visit Washington before the end of the year, likely to build on the momentum of these commercial and strategic agreements.