Can the three Riyadh summits be relied on?

‘Stability of ME closely linked to solution of Palestinian issue’

“OVER the past few days, we and the entire world followed the three summits hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh, first between King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and US President Donald Trump, the second was Gulf/American meet and the third Arab/Islamic/US that swept the Arab and Muslim streets with an air of optimism that these summits will serve the nation and bring it out of the predicament in which they live,” columnist wrote for daily.

“In view of anticipation of the political scenario which prevailed during the past few days, we have been waiting for an announcement of decisions which have been taken during the three summits, particularly decisions on important urgent issues such as combating terrorism and extremism, strengthening economic partnerships, and political and security cooperation.

“Nonetheless, whatever the outcome of the summits we tend to automatically ask: ‘Can we rely on the results of these summits and hope to step out of the stagnant water and breathe free air in a nation which until now has threatened all aspects of life?’

“This question stems from two-pronged sentiments — first is linked to the performance of the previous US administration headed by President Barack Obama who has created some sort of differences concerning most regional issues such as in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, in spite of the fact that the visions and strategies governing the policy of the former US administration was to fight terrorism.

“The second is linked to the outcome of the summits, particularly after the US President pays a visit to the Zionist entity. All of us know that Trump throughout the election campaigning had remained committed in his support to Israel compounded with a promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem following the declaration of Jerusalem as its capital.

“After arriving at the White House, Trump appointed an extremist ambassador to Tel Aviv who is one of the strongest supporters of the idea of moving the embassy to Jerusalem. Not only that he lives in a suburb in the holy city instead of living in a house in Tel Aviv waiting for the window

Al-Asidan

of opportunity in which the embassy is moved to Jerusalem.

“The stability of the Middle East is closely linked to the solution of the Palestinian issue. Will Trump’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and marathon meetings held Saturday and Sunday turn a new page or make a breakthrough in the deadlocked issues of the region starting with the Syrian crisis, leading to Yemen, through Iraq and intimidating the terrorism of DAESH, the Iranian threat to the Gulf, and other pressing political and economic files?

“Trump’s visit to the Zionist entity immediately after the Riyadh meeting, clearly confirms Washington’s commitment to the security and existence of this entity. Trump has always stressed this, but he raised the banner of hostility towards Islam during his campaigning and came to Saudi Arabia to calm down the fears and put things in the right perspective after kicking a antiMuslim storm during election campaigning. However, after taking the oath of office, he has confirmed that his statements and the hostility of his administration were directed at terrorism and not Islam.

“The Saudi, Gulf and Arab press has been optimistic which has published statements from government officials about the new American-Islamic partnership in the fight against terrorism, in light of talks about cloning a NATO-model defence outfit cloaked in Islam or rather an ‘Islamic NATO’ alliance, whose primary goal is to fight terrorism. However, on ground of reality, things do not seem to have changed.

“What has Trump offered to the Gulf Arabs and Muslim leaders apart from promises to solve the current crises in Yemen and Syria, which are closely associated with the Iranian file? All of us are fully aware of the blatant interference of Tehran in the Arab affairs, endless ambitions in Arab countries and using its ‘henchmen’ in the region, particularly in Bahrain and the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia to threaten the security and stability of the Arab world in general and the Gulf region in particular.

“Has Trump pledged to rein in Iran in the region and work to ‘clip’ Tehran’s wings from the Arab body, starting with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, and the militias that operate in Iraq wearing the cloak of the Mullah regime?

“Has Trump put forward a solution to the crisis in Syria? These two files (Iran and Syria) are among the hottest and most urgent issues at the moment.

“Here we must draw the attention to the pledges made by the US President before his arrival in Riyadh, pledges to crush DAESH and stop the Iranian penetration in the region.

“The reality on the ground will prove the success or failure of Trump’s visit to Riyadh. We will monitor the situation to see if there are any real breakthroughs in all the files that were discussed, or we continue to see these files collecting dust on the shelves of Arab and American politics just like the rest of the files?”

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“The size of the black comedy that accompanied President Donald Trump’s visit has reached a record number of comments and sarcastic tweets, equal to the amount of money the US has earned, about half a trillion dollars, in the form of arms deals, investments and support for the US economy,” columnist, Professor at Kuwait University’s Political Science Department and former MP wrote for

daily Tuesday. “Perhaps this is the psychological state of mind of many Arabs who have expressed their position on this visit through ridicule and indirect comic criticism. Trump’s daughter Ivanka stole the limelight even from her father for more comments and observations. Some articles contained deep and political analysis to this important event which, however they did not change the official positions that have been translated into signing agreements and contracts.

“But the most important question revolves around the feasibility of Mr Trump’s visit and the future of the region; and the seriousness of the US strategy towards the Middle East specifically.

“Trump’s controversial personality is not only global, but is known at home for kicking dust. Some analysts attribute his early visit to the Gulf region and the official announcement of the hundreds of billions of dollars the president has earned will help water down his fierce political battle in Congress because he has proven to his people that he can bring money to the United States.

“Mr Trump’s courage has yet to be tested in spite of his government boasts of a team of hawks or rabid dogs. The man has retreated in the face of the 35-yearold North Korean president, in the face of Putin after the latter showed his power in Syria, retreated from abolishing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, retreated from cancelling the nuclear accord with Iran but continues to change his positions without even referring to it or admitting to his erroneous estimates. How can we trust his big pledges made to 50 Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh?

“It was Mr Trump who insulted the Arabs and especially the people of the Gulf 20 years ago before running for presidential elections. He renewed his insults with brazenness during election campaigning and perhaps that was one of the reasons for his success.

“Today he is trying to establish himself as ruler and commander in the region. He is the only one who puts a tag on friends and foes. He dictates to a nation that represents 1.5 billion people with its institutions, governments and leaderships, and tells them what to do and what not to do.

“Yes, the people in the region and their political and ruling elite are fully aware of the sources of the threat of terrorism, instability, infrastructure, building and the adoption of moderation, so how can we trust a person like Trump to be our protector?

“Mr Trump summed up the purpose of his visit in his own words, explicit and prepared in advance, and reviewed by his advisers, but after signing his contracts worth hundreds of billions of dollars, he said: ‘Do not wait for us to fight on your behalf or to defeat your enemy for you’.”

“In the recent past, those who opposed their opinions were given the appellation of “government puppets” as if the government is their harsh critic, but with the awareness that they are more pro-government than us,” wrote for

daily. “Their interests with the government are many and of various types, starting with accomplishment of transactions and ending with awarding of contracts under the desk to middlemen for well-known companies. They have strange effects on the public during seminars organized for their selfish interests.

“Today, the situation has changed to the extent that they no longer command dignity as they did in the past. They are now more pro-government than the government itself, but they will not describe themselves as puppets. They only attach such appellation to others and exclude themselves. Now that they have representatives in the National Assembly, what have they contributed so far and what will be their contributions in future?”

— Compiled by Ahmed Al-Shazli