Trump at bin Salman's court, wants a turning point in the Middle East

The Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera says the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, has risen to at least 45 and dozens wounded. And six more people have reportedly died since midnight in attacks by the Jewish state on the Palestinian enclave, according to Al Jazeera. Yesterday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered the immediate evacuation of parts of the northern Gaza Strip, announcing a military operation.

Yesterday:

"Historic agreements" for 600 billion (including a record 142 billion in weapons), lifting of sanctions on Syria, pressure on Iran for a nuclear deal and on Israel for a truce in Gaza, where "people deserve a better future". The "Donald of Arabia", as some have nicknamed the American president for his first trip abroad in his second term, mixes stellar deals and his unpredictable diplomacy in his debut in Riyadh.

A trip marred by the decision to accept a super luxury Boeing from Qatar as a gift and to exclude news agencies from Air Force One. But the tycoon was welcomed with full honors by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman among the marbles and golds of the sumptuous royal palace.

“We like each other a lot,” Trump said in an exchange of mutual praise, accompanied by a court of CEOs led by Elon Musk and including, among others, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Larry Fink, John Elkann.

While the investments were somewhat expected, there was much anticipation for the more political part of his speech at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in front of an audience of wealthy sheiks at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center. His speech laid the foundation for a (difficult) turning point in the Middle East where, he said, "after so many decades of conflict, it is finally within our reach to achieve the future that generations before us could only dream of: a land of peace, security, harmony, opportunity, innovation and success."

"Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by trade, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions and beliefs build cities together, not bomb each other," he continued.

Thus paying homage to the new ruling class of the Gulf countries, which has "pursued its own visions and traced its own destiny in its own way", without the "Western interventionism" that failed in Kabul and Baghdad. The dramatic blow was the announcement of the turning point on Syria, with the lifting of sanctions, the restoration of relations between the two countries and the opening of credit to the new government of President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (al Jolani), who will meet on Wednesday in Riyadh.

"In Syria, which has known so much misery and death, there is a new government that we should all hope for to be able to stabilize the country and maintain peace," Trump explained to applause, who made the decision after speaking with MbS and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Opening also on Lebanon, where the tycoon said he was ready to help "build a future of economic development and peace with its neighbors". Stick and carrot instead for Iran. "I am here not only to condemn the past choices of Iranian leaders, but to offer them a new and better path toward a much more promising future" he said, reiterating that he wants a nuclear deal (unpopular with Israel).

But then he threatened that, otherwise, "we will have no choice but to inflict maximum pressure, bringing Iranian oil exports to zero: now it is up to Tehran to decide but our offer will not last forever", he warned, receiving another thunderous applause when he promised that Iran "will never have nuclear weapons". The commander in chief also sent a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (with whom the chill has fallen), on the day in which he announced that the Israeli army will enter the Strip "with all its force" in the coming days.

"The people of Gaza deserve a better future," he said amid applause, adding that it is his "fervent wish" that Saudi Arabia "soon join the Abraham Accords." An impossible goal as long as Bibi continues his war. For this reason, Trump could present his plan to end the conflict in the Strip tomorrow, in the second leg of his trip to Qatar, "ordering" Netanyahu to respect it, writes Haaretz, according to which the release by Hamas of the Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander "indicates coordination between Qatar and the United States."

Diplomacy, as always with Trump, is intertwined with business. Hence the signing with MbS of several mega agreements with Riyadh's commitment to invest 600 billion dollars in the US: from weapons (142 billion) to AI (20 billion), from high tech to energy, from infrastructure to healthcare. But for the "Donald of Arabia" it is much more, "over a thousand billion", considering the agreements with other large American companies such as Amazon and Oracle. And, perhaps, his own as well.