Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
President Donald Trump's trip to the Gulf next week highlights how the US and the region are standing on the brink of a “golden age”, the White House said on Friday.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar - which begins on Monday - will focus on strengthening ties and will build on foundations laid during his previous administration.
“Now, eight years later, President Trump will return to re-emphasise his continued vision for a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East, where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in co-operative relationships, and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges,” Ms Leavitt told journalists.
She added that the new “golden age” will see the US and the Middle East “united by a shared vision of stability, opportunity and mutual respect”.
Mr Trump's trip, scheduled for May 11 to 16, is expected to allow him to present a friendly face to regional allies, in contrast to the more antagonistic approach the President has taken towards the EU, Ukraine and others, say observers.
“It seems that the Trump administration sees America's partners in the Gulf as the kind of trusted interlocutors, not treaty allies in Europe or other partners,” Steven Cook senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said on Friday.
“And it's a different look for American foreign policy, to go to these Gulf states as mediators on issues both within the region and beyond.”
Though Mr Trump's visit is expected to focus on securing economic deals, after he announced a series of tariffs on countries around the world, including in the Middle East. Days after he unveiled the levies, he announced a 90-day pause to allow for trade negotiations.
The trip to the Gulf comes amid several global crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict in Gaza, upheaval in Syria, US tension with Iran and fighting between India and Pakistan.
Gulf countries have been playing increasingly important roles on global issues: Saudi Arabia has played a significant role in mediating the war in Ukraine and the UAE has been instrumental in bringing home Americans detained in Russia.
Qatar has acted as mediator in trying to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, while Oman has acted as intermediary between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme The Trump administration's recent agreement with the Houthis over their shipping attacks in the Red Sea, were also hosted in Oman.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump said he would make a “very, very big” announcement before his trip, without specifying the subject.
He said the announcement would be “as big as it gets” and “very positive”.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
The burning issue
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Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Nadhra, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
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Torque: 1075Nm
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Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
