The special relationship between Mr. Trump and the Gulf countries

(CLO) Since leaving office in 2021, former President Donald Trump and some of his allies have continued to cooperate with the richest and most powerful Gulf countries, signing business deals worth millions of dollars.

Here are some of the meetings and deals made between Mr. Trump, who just declared victory in the 2024 US presidential election, his allies and the Gulf states.

Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6. Photo: Reuters

In September, Mr. Trump privately hosted the Emir of Qatar and the President of the UAE at his Mar-a-Lago estate and private club on the sidelines of their official visits.

Since Mr Trump left the White House, Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law, has discussed US-Saudi diplomacy with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on several occasions. Kushner also attended the 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar.

The Trump Organization, Mr Trump's company, has signed business deals with key allies in the region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

In July, the Trump Organization announced it would partner with Saudi Arabian luxury international real estate developer Dar Global to build a Trump-branded tower in Dubai.

London-listed Dar Global also announced in July that it was partnering with the Trump Organization to develop Trump Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In 2022, Dar Global signed a deal with the Trump Organization to use the Trump brand for a $4 billion project in the Gulf state of Oman, including a golf course, hotel and villas.

Other key allies of Mr Trump have also maintained business ties with Gulf powers since leaving office in 2021.

Dina Powell McCormick, who has served in various roles in the Trump administration, including a stint as deputy national security adviser, was one of the Wall Street veterans hired to work on the initial public offering of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) in 2019. Now a managing director at merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners, she attended the Saudi Arabia Future Investment Initiative conference in October, a key event aimed at the brokerage business.

Ken Moelis, a former Trump banker and founder and CEO of investment bank Moelis & Company, was also selected to work on Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering. Moelis attended the Saudi Arabia Future Investment Initiative conference in October 2024.

Steve Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive who served as US Treasury Secretary under the Trump administration, has been a frequent traveler to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE since leaving office in 2021. The fund Mnuchin founded, Liberty Strategic Capital, has received backing from Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and SoftBank’s Vision Fund.

Congressional investigators say Saudi Arabia has invested $2 billion in former senior adviser to President Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners private equity fund, which he founded after leaving the White House. Investment funds in the UAE and Qatar have also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the fund.

Eric Trump, one of the sons of former President Trump, said in July that the Trump Organization wanted to pursue more deals in the Middle East.

Donald Trump Jr., the former president's eldest son, traveled to Oman and Dubai in June.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/moi-quan-he-dac-biet-giua-ong-trump-va-cac-quoc-gia-giau-mo-vung-vinh-post320240.html