New Delhi, May 14: US President Donald Trump’s West Asia or Middle East tour shifted into high gear with a high-profile visit on Wednesday, the second stop in Qatar, where the U.S. president unveiled a series of commercial and defence deals. Chief among them was what Trump hailed as a “record” $200 billion order for Boeing aircraft by Qatar Airways, a deal he claimed was the largest in the company’s history.
The announcement followed a bilateral meeting in Doha between Trump and the Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which the two leaders signed a range of agreements, including those in aviation, defence, and strategic cooperation. The setting was as grand as the numbers: Air Force One was escorted into Qatari airspace by fighter jets before Trump was welcomed with a red-carpet ceremony at Lusail Palace.
There, beneath chandeliers and flanked by gold-trimmed pillars, the two men exchanged pleasantries and praise.
The Emir called Trump a “man of peace,” highlighting Qatar’s recent role as a host of major global events and commending the U.S. for its ongoing military strength, as reported by international media.
Trump described Sheikh Tamim as “an outstanding man” and called the Lusail Palace “perfecto” from a “construction person’s” point of view.
The centrepiece of the visit was the Qatar Airways order for 160 Boeing jets, an agreement Trump said underlined “the strong military and economic position” of the U.S, as reported by the international media. The deals also included a letter of offer and acceptance for MQ-9B drones, as well as a joint statement of intent to expand defence cooperation.
During the press briefing, Trump stated that the two leaders had discussed global issues, including those related to Ukraine and Iran. The Emir, for his part, called the discussions “great” and said the meeting marked “another level” in U.S.-Qatar relations. A joint declaration of cooperation was also signed, reinforcing the strategic alignment between the two countries amid a shifting regional order.
His four-day tour of the Gulf region, which began in Riyadh, is focused on leveraging economic deals to bolster American influence in the oil-rich region, a strategy he argues offers a path to long-term stability. The focus on trade, defence, and showmanship reflects a return to Trump’s preferred style of diplomacy: transactional, personal, and theatrically grand.
