Trump’s Mideast trip should bring US wins — both economic and strategic

President Trump this week heads to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for a trip that should be productive on both the economic and (more quietly) geostrategic fronts.

Figure on major announcements of new investment pledges, plus perhaps some arms deals and/or joint ventures — accords that won’t cover just energy but likely touch on crypto, AI and (perhaps most significant) strategic minerals.

The Middle East is now a major fulcrum between the West and China — with the Arab powers inevitably leaning our way not just because of historic ties, but because the United States remains the region’s best ally against aggression form Xi Jinping’s pals in Iran.

Plus, the Saudis’ aggressive drive to become a major global player in rare earths and other critical minerals makes them de facto rivals of China, which has been seeking monopolies on pretty much everything.

The trip should also advance mutual security arrangements, whether or not any actual agreements are announced. At the very least, expect public shows of support for Trump’s stated hope for a deal on Iran’s nuclear program — and for his warnings that if Tehran can’t offer sufficient hard guarantees on that front, Washington will settle the issue in other ways.

Behind the scenes, the prez may also make progress on expanding the landmark Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab states.

While the continued Gaza war makes the Arabs more reluctant to close on diplomatic deals, they appreciate Israel’s actions in Lebanon — vastly reducing Iran’s influence — and Syria, where they worry about Turkey’s bid to expand its influence south.

At the end of Trump’s first term, Iran was bottled up while Israel and the Arab powers were growing closer.

President Joe Biden’s Mideast blundering upset all America’s friends in the region as he sought to appease Iran and push the hopelessly outdated “two-state solution” on Israel, even as he utterly misplayed the Saudis with impotent moralistic lecturing.

That left all the players making nice with Moscow and/or Beijing, and holding Washington in ever-greater contempt — even as Tehran’s threat grew.

Hamas’ Iran-approved Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel was the most obvious and tragic result of the Biden team’s arrogant cluelessness, but far from the only damage done.

Trump’s trip now is crucial not only to repairing relations, but to rallying all our allies to face down Iran and side more closely with the West against the Beijing-Moscow axis. The economic deals will only be the tip of the iceberg.