President Donald Trump continued his diplomatic charm offensive towards the Gulf this week, hosting Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for a private dinner and meeting Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the White House. The meetings were framed as efforts to foster regional stability, advance US interests, and cement lucrative economic ties.

US President Donald Trump met Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office on Wednesday, while later hosting Qatar’s Prime Minister for a private dinner. The engagements reflect Trump’s focus on bolstering US-Gulf relations amid ongoing regional crises, including efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire.

Al Jazeera reported that Trump’s administration aims to use these meetings to strengthen diplomatic ties with Gulf states as part of a broader strategy for economic growth and political stability. Bahrain’s crown prince stressed the “real” nature of the agreements, highlighting $17 billion in investments across sectors such as aerospace, AI, and civilian nuclear energy.

Economic Interests at the Forefront

During his May visit to the Gulf, Trump struck deals worth at least $1.2 trillion with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. These included Qatar Airways’ purchase of 210 Boeing aircraft and defense technology acquisitions from companies like Raytheon. Trump’s ties to the Gulf have been underscored by his interest in a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar as a potential Air Force One replacement, raising ethical concerns.

Bahrain’s King Hamad is also expected to visit Washington later this year to further discuss cooperation.

Strategic Military and Energy Links

Bahrain’s strategic importance as host of the US Fifth Fleet and Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base — recently targeted by Iran amid escalating tensions — continue to underline the military dimension of these relationships. A recent Iranian attack on the base followed US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but a ceasefire was declared shortly thereafter.

Trump’s Gulf diplomacy is seen as both a commercial opportunity and a security imperative, seeking to maintain US influence in a region he has described as “rich, stable, and populated by authoritarians with whom the president feels very comfortable,” according to former US adviser Aaron David Miller.