Trump's Middle East tour omits Israel amid tensions with Netanyahu over Gaza policies

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is set to embark on his first major international trip of his second term, heading to the Middle East, with a focus on securing substantial investments and addressing regional security concerns. The president's itinerary includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and the United Arab Emirates.

"The three, frankly, wealthy Arabian countries can invest a lot of money in the US. Investment deals are expected to be signed, think we’ll hear tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created in the U.S.," explained Dan Raviv, a Middle East expert and author of "The Quest for Significance." U.S. officials are reportedly aiming for deals worth a trillion dollars.

Another critical topic on the agenda is Iran's nuclear ambitions. Before leaving Washington on Monday, President Trump told reporters at the White House, "We’re in the midst of talking to them and right now they are acting very intelligent. We want Iran to be wealthy and wonderful and happy and great, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon, it's very simple."

The trip notably excludes Israel. "There’s a sense that [Trump's] distancing himself a little bit, if not from the Jewish state of Israel, then from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I’ve heard from some US officials and from some analysts here in Washington that the Trump White House is not happy that Netanyahu is intent on continuing the war in Gaza," said Raviv.

Despite the omission, the U.S. maintains a strong defense relationship with Israel. Meanwhile, the Arab countries on Trump's itinerary are seeking their own defense assurances and the ability to purchase U.S.-made weapons.