(Washington, DC, May 12, 2025) – In response to President Trump's scheduled visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E., DAWN issued the following statement:
"President Trump's willingness to negotiate with Iran about its civilian nuclear capacity is a welcome development that will make the entire region more secure and minimize the Gulf Arabs' reliance on U.S. military protection," said Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN's Executive Director. "But President Trump should avoid any trade deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE that come at the expense of U.S. security guarantees, which will end up costing our country much more than their promised investments in our economy."
"President Trump's trip to the Middle East might indeed be historic if he stops Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza," said Raed Jarrar, DAWN's advocacy director. "Ending the U.S. war on Yemen was a good first step in a new direction: the U.S. will no longer fight Israel's wars and spend our blood and treasure supporting Netanyahu's destructive dreams."
"It's great to expand American trade ties with the wealthy countries of the Gulf region, but billions of dollars of weapon sales have profited no one but defense companies, fomenting wars, instability, and destruction throughout the region," said Whitson. "Whatever the outcomes of Trump's visit to the Gulf, it should not include a penny in weapons to the UAE, in light of its continued support for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, in defiance of the UN Security Council's arms embargo on the country."
