WSJ: Trump’s High-Flying Persian Gulf Strategy
President Trump isn’t known for his bookishness, but his presidential library might be bigger than anything since Alexandria. Unlike the ancient library, Mr. Trump’s could boast its own $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, courtesy of the emir of Qatar. This has some lawyers grumbling and many observers questioning the wisdom of accepting gifts from a government long supportive of Hamas. Mr. Trump is waving aside those concerns with his customary insouciance.
As the American president prepares to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, he sometimes seems to be dominating the global agenda as fully as he dominates the political scene at home. The announcement of a partial and preliminary agreement with China on tariffs allows Mr. Trump to claim that his trade policies are bringing others to the negotiating table.
Pakistan credited the Trump administration for the cease-fire that halted hostilities with India. Iran’s foreign minister hailed the “very useful discussions” over Tehran’s nuclear program, and Hamas released its last known living American hostage amid reports across the Middle East that the U.S. may be pursuing a cease-fire in Gaza. There’s even talk about a possible meeting in Istanbul between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents for the peace talks President Trump has repeatedly urged on both sides.
But Mr. Trump can’t afford to get cocky. Some or all of these deals could fall through, and there are serious questions about whether some of them actually advance American interests. The joint statement Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping issued in Moscow on Thursday suggests that Mr. Trump’s efforts to drive Russia and China apart have not yet borne fruit. Nevertheless, for now, the winds are blowing his way.