YONI BEN MENACHEM -- Senior political officials claim President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf States was primarily driven by economic motives, aiming to secure trillion-dollar deals with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
In parallel, Trump strengthened Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by lifting economic sanctions on Syria and meeting with its new leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
Security officials describe al-Jolani as a Turkish intelligence operative serving Erdogan’s interests, who helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad. Erdogan now plans to dominate Syria, establish seven military bases, and push Israel out.
They assert that Trump legitimized al-Jolani, formerly a senior figure in al-Qaeda and ISIS, and founder of the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Ignoring Israeli warnings and U.S. counterterror experts, Trump overlooked recent massacres by al-Jolani’s forces against Alawite and Druze communities in Syria. When questioned, Trump described him as a “young, charismatic, tough guy with a powerful past—a real fighter.”
Reuters reported that senior officials in the State Department and Pentagon were caught off guard by Trump’s move and were unprepared.
Political sources revealed that Trump rejected Israel’s plea not to lift sanctions. While he called on Syria to join the Abraham Accords and set conditions for al-Jolani, Israeli officials believe al-Jolani, backed by Erdogan, will gradually sidestep these demands. Trump seeks to expand his normalization process to include Syria, Lebanon, and other Islamic nations.
Security experts estimate Erdogan and al-Jolani achieved their primary goal: lifting harsh economic sanctions and repealing the Caesar Act, boosting al-Jolani’s status as Syria’s new president.
The Caesar Act, passed during Trump’s first term, imposed sanctions on Syria’s military and energy sectors under Assad’s regime.
Saudi Arabia also assisted al-Jolani in securing a meeting with Trump. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to expand his influence in Syria, not leaving the field solely to Erdogan. Qatar, a key player in the Muslim Brotherhood axis, announced plans to transfer over $70 million to support Syria’s economy.
Turkey is expected to profit billions from Syria’s reconstruction, deeply engaging in rebuilding the economy and forming a new Syrian army. Qatar and Saudi Arabia will also invest, increasing their sway over the new Syrian regime.
Officials suggest Trump’s move may be aimed at rewarding Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar by facilitating their investments in Syria. Meanwhile, Israel receives only vague promises of normalization, while the Muslim Brotherhood axis tightens its grip.