Trump makes the Gulf states feel powerful, but the real test is: can they stop Israel's war? | Nesrine Malik

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

78% : For the three Gulf countries that Trump visited, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Trump's recognition of their colossal national projects in economic transformation, and political positioning in terms of foreign policy, slaked an appetite to be seen.
57% : From Trump, there is no such mixed signalling: you are rich, we need you.
57% : Keir Starmer can have a good stab at getting Trump on side by offering a "historic" royal invitation for a state visit, but can he project the stars and stripes on the world's tallest building?
56% : As lavish scenes unfolded across the Gulf, and Trump commented on the quality of marble, there was one unavoidable thought - no food, water or medicine has been allowed into Gaza for months.
53% : His call for recognising the new role of Gulf states both as political and economic powerhouses, and matter-of-factly taking their lead on what Syria needs right now, whatever the history, is excruciating.
47% : Never has Trump appeared more in his element, surrounded by the wealth of sovereigns, the marshalling power of absolute monarchies, and their calculated self-orientalisation and over-the-top flattery.
47% : But there is a fundamental disjuncture to Trump's trip that was apparent in parts of Middle Eastern state media and political pronouncements last week.
43% : Because even though it looked as if something historic took place, that Trump had blown away the cobwebs of old foreign policy in the region, broken with orthodoxies, and made overtures that overturn decades-old tropes and perceptions, it may all still come to nothing where it matters most.
41% : What is clear is that the centre of gravity is shifting for the US away from European capitals and transatlantic alliances, towards a region that, as far as Trump is concerned, is not bothering him with any moral condemnations on Ukraine, doesn't have the pesky matter of a voting public to worry about, and has spare billions to invest and flamboyantly flatter.
40% : Trump is dispensing with the pretence of international law altogether, and in doing so ending the theatre that the US was ever some virtuous protagonist in the region.
36% : As Trump was received with US flag waving, one stark issue could not be broached - that he leads the country that is supplying the weapons and political support for a military campaign that is destabilising the region.
30% : Trump is still shopping his ethnic cleansing plan that aims to "resettle" people from Gaza, this time to Libya, and the momentum of the early days of his administration to secure a ceasefire is now gone, as Israel intensifies its campaign to occupy more parts of Gaza.

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