Trump pledges stronger UAE ties, eyes AI alliance in Gulf go to

President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged to bolster US relations with the United Arab Emirates throughout a go to aimed toward increasing cooperation, notably within the subject of synthetic intelligence.

The UAE cease marks the newest leg of Trump’s tour of Gulf nations, following his go to to Qatar the place he praised Doha’s dedication to speculate $10 billion in a US army facility.

“I’ve completely little question that the connection will solely get larger and higher,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying in a gathering with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“Your great brother got here to Washington a number of weeks in the past and he informed us about your beneficiant assertion as to the 1.4 trillion,” Trump added, referring to a UAE pledge to speculate $1.4 trillion within the US over 10 years.

Trump was referring to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan — the brother of President Sheikh Mohamed, the UAE’s nationwide safety adviser, and chairman of two main sovereign wealth funds primarily based in Abu Dhabi.

“And all I can say is thanks very a lot,” Trump mentioned, including, “We are going to work very onerous to deserve it.”

Sheikh Mohamed informed Trump the UAE was “eager to proceed and strengthen this friendship for the advantage of the 2 nations and peoples,” including to Trump: “your presence right here in the present day, your excellency, the president, confirms that this keenness is mutual.”

Earlier than departing for the UAE, President Trump informed US troops at Al Udeid Air Base close to Doha that Qatar’s newly signed defence purchases have been price $42 billion.

In Abu Dhabi, Trump was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The 2 visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which Trump praised as “so lovely.”

“First time they closed it. It’s in honour of the USA. Higher than in honor of me. Let’s give it to the nation. That’s a fantastic tribute,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying contained in the mosque.

The UAE is searching for US help to change into a worldwide chief in synthetic intelligence. A preliminary deal reported by Reuters would permit the UAE to import 500,000 Nvidia AI chips yearly, beginning this 12 months — a transfer that will speed up its AI infrastructure however has sparked US nationwide safety issues.

On the presidential palace, Trump and Sheikh Mohamed met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. A know-how framework settlement between the 2 nations — involving mutual commitments to tech safety — was anticipated to be signed later Thursday.

Trump mentioned he would possibly return to Washington on Friday however hinted at a doable cease in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine, saying his journey was “nearly vacation spot unknown.”

Throughout his four-day Gulf tour, President Trump secured main enterprise offers, together with Qatar Airways’ buy of as much as 210 Boeing jets, a $600 billion Saudi funding pledge within the US, and $142 billion in arms gross sales to the dominion.

The journey additionally noticed a surge in diplomacy. In Qatar, Trump mentioned the US was near a nuclear take care of Iran, claiming Tehran had “type of” agreed.

He additionally introduced the lifting of US sanctions on Syria and met interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging him to normalize ties with Israel.

Trump’s go to underscored his push to strengthen Gulf ties and place the area —particularly the UAE — as a possible third hub in international AI energy, following the US and China.

This marks a shift from the Biden administration, which had tightened chip export controls over issues they may profit China’s army.

Evaluating his method to that of former President Joe Biden, Trump quipped about Biden’s 2022 fist bump with the Saudi crown prince, saying: “They don’t desire a fist bump. They wish to shake fingers.”

“I shook extra fingers, greater than any human being is able to doing,” Trump informed reporters on Air Drive One.

“He travels all the best way to Saudi Arabia, in that case, and he provides him a fist bump. That’s not what they need. They don’t desire a fist bump. They wish to shake his hand.”

With inputs from companies