U.S. Secretary of State Rubio to join Trump in Middle East travel, U.S. State Dept says. - CGTN America

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio to join Trump in Middle East travel, U.S. State Dept says. - CGTN America

President Donald Trump is set to embark on his first major foreign trip of his second term, with a visit to the Middle East scheduled for next week. The trip, which includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, aims to strengthen ties between the U.S. and these key Middle Eastern nations. Notably, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will accompany Trump on this journey [1].

The visit comes at a crucial time for the region, marked by instability and ongoing conflicts, including the war in Gaza and the fighting in Yemen. The Middle East tour is a repeat of Trump's first international trip in 2017, during which he was feted for his transactional leadership and ability to secure economic and geopolitical interests for regional monarchies [1].

Trump's negotiations are expected to focus on a range of topics, including oil and trade, investment deals, regional conflicts, and the Iran nuclear program. His primary goal is to secure multi-billion-dollar deals that align with his "America First" policy [1].

One of the key aspects of this trip is the lack of planned visits to Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet have floated plans for a larger invasion of Gaza and the expulsion of the Palestinian population, a proposal that has been widely criticized. This absence of a visit to Israel is notable, given the tensions over the war in Gaza and the regional implications of Trump's policies [1].

The U.S. State Department has announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will join Trump on the Middle East trip. Pompeo's involvement underscores the importance of the visit and the potential for significant diplomatic and economic outcomes. The trip is also notable for the absence of a visit to Israel, which has been a point of contention in U.S.-Israel relations [2].

The visit is part of a broader strategy to focus on economic statecraft, with Trump aiming to secure investments from wealthy Gulf states. The Middle East trip is expected to be a key part of Trump's effort to prioritize domestic interests and strengthen economic ties with key regional partners [1].

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/11/trump-middle-east-gulf-israel
[2] https://www.wabi.tv/2025/05/10/president-trump-visit-middle-east-next-week/