Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
There seems to be turn tide again in favor of relations between America and Saudi Arabia, when President Donald Trump of the United States accompanied by first lady Melanie was received by custodian of holy cities of Mecca and Madina of Muslim Ummah King Salman 81, of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aided by a cane while a fleet of military jets swept through the sky leaving a red, white and blue trail in their wake and shook hands with first lady of America as well. More than dozen horses flanked the presidential limousine while trumpets played and soldiers stood. This is in contrast to chilly reception accorded to immediate past President Barack Obama by King Salman at third week of April of 2016 to attend counter terrorism summit of Arab and Muslim countries in Riyadh. President Obama was received by Governor of Riyadh because of his outreach to Islamic Republic of Iran by signing nuclear deal whom Saudi Arabia considered arch rival in the Middle East, apart from Obama’s criticism of Saudi Arabia to become “a free rider on US foreign policy” in an interview to a magazine in US.
Traditionally, US President goes to neighboring countries in the first place to strengthen relations with leaders of the country. For example, President George W.Bush, Republican, undertook the first foreign trip to Mexico, a close door neighbor while President Barack Obama, Democrat, paid first visit to Canada, another close door neighbor. President Trump, however, has caused irritating relations with both neighboring countries. With Mexico and Canada President Trump has threatened to bring about a new trade agreement instead of existing NAPTA, apart from building wall along Mexico-US border. Trump administration plans to impose 20 percent tariff on Canadian softwood lumber.Nearly, $ 6 billion worth of lumber wood was imported from Canada last year. The imposition of tariff on Canadian wood represents” sharp pivot” by Trump administration from second largest trading partners of America.
There is unusual symptom of relations between Saudi Arabia and America which has been reflected honoring President Trump during his first visit by Saudi King with highest national award of gold medal of King Abdulaziz, founder of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The occasion was marked by a ceremony at the grand Saudi Royal court followed by traditional ardha sword dance. All these events took place which led to believe to buy confidence of US President against arch rival of Islamic Republic of Iran. President Trump is on record criticizing President Obama for signing nuclear deal with Iran. The deal was described by Donald Trump as disaster for Israel and on assuming presidentship he imposed economic sanctions against Iran. President Trump also earned confidence of Saudi Kingdom when unleashed series of Tomahawk cruise missiles against Syrian air base in April as a result of using chemical weapons by Syrian regime at Idlib which caused series of deaths including children while President Obama backed out of taking action against Syrian regime when Syria used chemical weapons in August of 2013.
During his first visit to Saudi Arabia a series of agreements were signed including sales of armament to the Saudis including warships, missile defense systems, bombs and ammunitions worth $ 110 billion. On the other hand, Saudi investment fund, Blackstone, signed an agreement to invest $ 40 billion for infrastructures in the United States. President Obama, however, had halted some sales of weapons to Saudi over concerns that Saudi-led forces intervening in Yemen were killing large number of civilians while Trump administration has reinforced its support for Saudi Arabia’s aggressive action against Houthi rebel group in Yemen which toppled Saudi alliance group. Two Mous were exchanged between Defense Minister who is second crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson relating to revamp and modernize Saudi Defense capabilities while an agreement of partnership to manufacture Black Hock choppers in the Kingdom was exchanged by Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud, chairman of Board of director of Saudi Corporation for development and technological investment and President of Lockheed Martin corporation of US. Besides a number of MOU in the field of technology, power generation, manufacturing high value products were signed.
President is seen addressing gatherings of leaders of Muslim countries and Arab Gulf cooperation council on 21 May wherein he has sought coalition of nations in the Middle East with the aim of” stamping out extremism.” In other words President announced his support for an Arab NATO, a pan Arab military alliance that Saudi Arabia has long wanted to form as a counterpart to Iran and coordinate fight against extremist group.President, however, said “the fight against terrorists was not a battle between different faith, different sects or different civilization. This is a battle between those who seek to obliterate human life and those who seek to protect it”. He, however, urged gatherings to drive extremists out of your places of worship, drive them out of your community and drive them out of your holy land. A memorandum of understanding signed by members of Gulf Cooperation Council which pledges to prosecute the financing terrorism including individual.
President Trump whose election campaign was frequently punctuated bouts of Islamophobia appears to soften some of language about Islam. President Trump also blamed Saudis for knocking down world trade center in New York on 9/11. The first ever foreign trip to Saudi Arabia has set aside traditional foreign policy trend of the United States, apart from confirms the importance of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East in particular in term of economic and politics as well. It seems President Trump won heart and mind of Muslim communities. The visit to Saudi Arabia was followed by visits to Israel, Palestine and Vatican in Rome where President met with Pope. Possibly President Donald Trump has established unique position by visiting three holy places of Muslim, Judaism and Christianity. Possibly President Donald Trump is the first President of the United States of America who has chosen to visit birthplace of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. This is what National Security advisor to President retired Lt.Gen.H.R. McMaster has this to say:” no president has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christianity and Muslim faiths all on one trip.
(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh who writes from Virginia)
