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President Trump’s Center East journey has secured almost $2 trillion in offers for U.S. corporations, together with over $1.2 trillion in financial funding from Qatar. This strategy focuses on enterprise offers reasonably than the diplomatic peace efforts pursued by earlier administrations.
The centerpiece of the Qatar agreements is a $96 billion deal for Qatar Airways to buy 210 Boeing plane (787 and 777X fashions), described as Boeing’s largest order for these fashions. The White Home claims this can assist 154,000 U.S. jobs yearly and probably create over 1 million jobs all through manufacturing and supply — a big increase for Boeing, which has misplaced greater than $35 billion since 2019 following 737 Max crashes.
Further Qatari offers embody $243.5 billion in financial agreements, $8.5 billion in initiatives with McDermott and Qatar Vitality, $97 billion in Parsons know-how initiatives, and a $1 billion quantum know-how funding between Quantinuum and Al Rabban Capital. Protection contracts embody a $1 billion counter-drone functionality settlement with Raytheon and an almost $2 billion take care of Basic Atomics for MQ-9B plane.
The nations additionally signed an announcement of intent outlining $38 billion in potential investments to strengthen their safety partnership, together with assist for the Al Udeid Air Base.
Democratic lawmakers have criticized these offers, suggesting they primarily profit Mr. Trump personally reasonably than the American individuals. They pointed to Trump Group actions within the area, together with a deliberate 80-floor resort in Dubai introduced by Eric Trump, and cryptocurrency, golf and luxurious residential offers being finalized by President Trump’s sons.
Moral considerations intensified when Qatar introduced a present of a $400 million Boeing 747 jumbo jet to Mr. Trump, which might function Air Drive One throughout his time period earlier than being transferred to his presidential library. Critics, together with Rep. Ritchie Torres, referred to as this a “flying grift” that violates constitutional prohibitions in opposition to federal officers accepting presents from overseas governments. Even some Trump supporters like Laura Loomer expressed disappointment, citing Qatar’s monetary assist of teams like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Mr. Trump’s journey concludes within the UAE, the place further offers involving chips, Nvidia, helicopters, and F-16 fighter jets are reportedly being negotiated.
Read more: Trump continues wheeling and dealing in Middle East, securing $1.2 trillion from Qatar
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