Arab-Islamic-US summit: What matters for India is Trump's attack on Iran
During his first stop-over, US president Donald Trump signed a $110 billion defence deal with the Saudis and, while commenting on the outcome of his visit, stated:
That was a tremendous day. I just want to thank everybody. But tremendous investments into the United States, and our military community is very happy, and we want to thank you and Saudi Arabia. But hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.
Interestingly, Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama had cancelled a $115 billion deal with the Saudis. Trump, during the presidential election campaign, had promised to take a tougher line against the Saudis, holding them responsible for 9/11.
The change of heart towards the Saudis is being attributed to two factors - the role played by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; and second, the businessman in Trump was impressed by the Saudi offer of $40 billion in American infrastructure.
Unlike his predecessors, Trump did not even pay lip service to human rights issues.
In his address at the Arab-Islamic-US summit, the US president said: We are not here to lecture - we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship."
Good ties between Washington and Riyadh do not hurt India. In fact in the past, US pressure on Saudi Arabia has been helpful for India. The extradition of Abu Jundal in 2012 is believed to be the result of US pressure on the Saudis.
Trump, during his speech at the summit, sought to de-link terror from religion, mentioned India as one of the victims of terror. "India, Russia, China, and Australia have all been victims," the US president said.
But what would worry India and a number of other countries which have strengthened ties with Iran is the US president’s all out attack on the country. Said Trump: “It is a government that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing the destruction of Israel, death to America, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.”
This attack on Iran evoked strong reactions, with the Iranian foreign minister tweeting: "Iran - fresh from real elections - attacked by @POTUS in that bastion of democracy & moderation. Foreign Policy or simply milking KSA of $480B?
New Delhi would hope that Trump moderates his stance on Iran, given New Delhi’s economic and strategic interests in a stable Iran.
Trump also had a brief meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Before the trip, it was believed that the Saudis would organise a bilateral meeting. The two leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries before the summit at the King Abdulaziz conference centre in Riyadh.
While sections of the media may pay attention to this, it is inconsequential. Even if Trump and Sharif had a brief bilateral meeting, beyond symbolic value there is not much to pay attention to.
In conclusion, New Delhi should welcome Trump’s reconciliatory tone towards the Islamic world and strong ties between the US and GCC countries.
What it should be concerned about however is US's aggressive stance against Iran.