UNITED NATIONS, Might 23 (IPS) – When US President Donald Trump supplied to declare neighboring Canada as America’s 51st state, the Canadians vehemently rejected the proposal.
“We don’t need to be a part of America,” was the rallying cry. And the short-lived provide was shot down in flames.
The following goal was Greenland, an autonomous territory inside the Kingdom of Denmark which retains management over overseas coverage, protection, nationwide safety, and the judicial and authorized system.
Trump stated he needs to buy Greenland. However the Danes weren’t impressed. “Greenland is just not on the market. Greenland is just not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland,” stated Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
One among Trump’s enduring political slogans “Make America Nice Once more” (MAGA) is embedded in 1000’s of baseball caps, posters and tee shirts. In one among a number of political demonstrations in Greenland, directed in opposition to the US, one placard flipped the MAGA slogan: “Make America Go Away” (MAGA).
Maybe Trump could also be profitable in campaigning for a extra extremely affluent relationship with Saudi Arabia as a trusted ally and probably America’s 51st state, in line with a joke circulating within the delegate’s lounge, the UN’s watering gap.
The Saudis, who gave him a proper royal welcome final week, promised a staggering $600 billion greenback funding in the US.
Trump praised Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman calling him “an unimaginable man” and a “nice man,” however made no point out of human rights considerations within the nation.
The history-making deal was centered totally on US arms gross sales and army help to the Saudis, together with investments by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two different nations Trump visited.
An oil-blessed Center Japanese nation, Saudi Arabia is among the world’s greatest single purchasers of American arms—together with fighter planes, fight helicopters, missiles, battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.
Following Trump’s heavily-publicized go to to Riyadh final week, the White Home was emphatic in declaring that Saudi Arabia stays “our largest International Navy Gross sales (FMS) companion” with lively circumstances valued at greater than $142 billion–nearly double Saudi Arabia’s 2025 protection price range of $78 billion.
“Our protection relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is stronger than ever beneath President Trump’s management, and the package deal signed (Might 13), the most important protection cooperation deal in U.S. historical past, is a transparent demonstration of our dedication to strengthening our partnership”, the White Home stated.
“The settlement opens the door for expanded U.S. protection trade participation and long-term sustainment partnerships with Saudi entities.”
Zain Hussain, Researcher on the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute (SIPRI) informed IPS Saudi Arabia is closely reliant on arms imports from the USA.
In 2020-2024, the USA provided 74% of all Saudi imports of main arms, and within the final decade (between 2015 and 2024), the USA provided 72% of Saudi imports of main arms, he identified.
Wanting additional at totally different armament classes reveals the extent of Saudi reliance on arms imports from the USA.
For instance, between 2015 and 2024, the USA provided round 80% of Saudi imports of plane, 84% of Saudi imports of missiles, 65% of Saudi imports of armoured autos, and 89% of Saudi imports of air protection methods.
After all, regardless of the sturdy reliance of Saudi Arabia on the USA for arms imports, Saudi Arabia additionally imports arms from different states. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s imports of ships between 2015 and 2024 have been from Spain (67%), France (21%) and Germany (12%), declared Hussain.
Right now in Saudi Arabia, President Donald J. Trump introduced Saudi Arabia’s $600-billion dedication to spend money on the US, constructing financial ties that may endure for generations to come back.
“The primary offers beneath the announcement strengthen our vitality safety, protection trade, expertise management, and entry to international infrastructure and significant minerals.”
- The offers celebrated are historic and transformative for each nations and symbolize a brand new golden period of partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia.
- From day one, President Trump’s America First Commerce and Funding Coverage has put the American economic system, the American employee, and our nationwide safety first, stated the White Home.
Dr. Natalie J. Goldring, who represents the Acronym Institute on the United Nations, specializing in standard weapons and arms commerce points, informed IPS: ““We’ve seen this film earlier than”.
In 2017, President Trump stated that US firms would promote $110 billion of army tools to Saudi Arabia. Roughly a 12 months and a half later, Glenn Kessler, truth checker for The Washington Put up, concluded that there had been little progress towards implementing the settlement.
He gave the administration’s declare 4 Pinocchios, the utmost the paper usually offers for a false declare. There’s little if any proof that the present agreements have any higher foundation actually.”
“As with all variety of different points, President Trump tends to make grandiose claims that often are usually not supported in actuality,” stated Dr Goldring.
On this case, the press launch touts his position as ‘the dealmaker in chief,’ although it consists of just about no particulars concerning the proposed gross sales of army tools and providers. That makes it not possible to discern what quantity of those proposed gross sales originated within the Biden administration – or the primary Trump administration, for that matter.”
“The Trump Administration’s method places the main focus squarely on the hypothetical financial advantages of those agreements, slightly than overseas coverage and worldwide safety dangers. The Trump administration wants to acknowledge that weapons aren’t toasters, and shouldn’t be offered as if they’re. But the proposed offers don’t seem to replicate consideration of Saudi Arabia’s human rights report, for instance,” she identified.
“Based mostly on US legislation, Saudi Arabia’s human rights offences ought to disqualify them from receiving army tools and providers from the US. And Saudi Arabia is on no account alone on this regard; for instance, Israel must be ineligible on related grounds,” declared Dr Goldring.
A White Home Truth Sheet launched final week says: Saudi Arabia is among the United States’ largest buying and selling companions within the Center East.
Saudi direct funding in the US totaled $9.5 billion in 2023, centered on the transportation, actual property, and automotive sectors.
In 2024, U.S.-Saudi Arabia items commerce totaled $25.9 billion, with U.S. exports at $13.2 billion, imports at $12.7 billion, and a commerce surplus in items of $443 million
Thalif Deen is a former Director, International Navy Markets at Protection Advertising and marketing Companies (DMS) and one-time UN correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly, London. A Fulbright scholar with a Grasp’s Diploma (MSc) in Journalism from Columbia College, New York, he’s Senior Editor at IPS and writer of the 2021 e book on the United Nations titled “No Remark – and Don’t Quote me on That”. The hyperlink to Amazon by way of the writer’s web site follows https://www.rodericgrigson.com/no-comment-by-thalif-deen/
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