By Aaron Kassraie
WASHINGTON, May 18 (KUNA) -- Donald Trump's first trip abroad as president of the United States includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Italy, where, over the course of nine days, he will meet with the world's top political and religious leaders to unite people around a "common vision of peace." "Trump is seeking is to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress and prosperity," said US National Security Advisor General HR McMaster to reporters at a briefing. "He will bring a message of tolerance and of hope to billions, including to millions of Americans who profess these faiths." US Ambassador to the UN Niki Haley echoed in an interview with ABC that Trump is meeting with "three of the strongest religions. He's going to go together, talk to all of them. And his message is going to be about unity. He is going to show what American leadership looks like, because those are areas of the world that have questioned it." She added, "We really have to make sure that we're doing everything we can to unify everyone against ISIS." Trump's first stop in Saudi Arabia was chosen because it is the location of "two holy mosques," where a meeting will be held with "a lot of the leaders of the Muslim world," a Senior White House official said in a briefing on background.
"President Trump has said a lot of things that a lot of these leaders in that region agree with, and they all want to see a long-term stability to the region, and they want to see a way for the young Muslims in that region to have economic opportunity," the official added.
While in Saudi Arabia, Trump also plans on holding a bilateral meeting with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and other members of the Saudi government. This will be followed by another meeting that will consist of leaders from the GCC. He will then have a lunch with leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries and will deliver a speech on the need to "confront radical ideology" and "hopes for a peaceful image of Islam to dominate across the world," said McMasters.
"The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners," he added.
Trump is also expected to "participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US-Saudi security and economic cooperation." Trump will meet with "(Israeli) President (Reuvan) Rivlin and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, (where) he will reaffirm America's unshakable bond to the Jewish state. With (Palestinian Authority) President (Mahmoud) Abbas, he will express his desire for dignity and self-determination for the Palestinians. And to leaders and peoples alike across the entire trip, he will demonstrate his hopes for just and lasting peace," McMaster added.
Since so many leaders want to meet Trump, the controversies in the US, such as the firing of FBI director James Comey, make less of an impact overseas, said Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies Elliott Abrams at the Council on Foreign Relations to reporters.
For the Israelis, the meeting with Abbas in Bethlehem is "a bit of a surprise" as it reflects "a continuity with previous presidents that they thought perhaps had been ended." Trump's attitude in his campaign was "the disruptor," someone "who's going to break with traditional American policy towards Israel," said Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Robert Danin at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Finally, for his last stop in Rome, Trump will meet with Pope Francis, where he will discuss "religious freedom, ways to combat religious persecution, human trafficking, and cooperating humanitarian missions across the globe," according to McMasters.
"Trump's success on this trip will be measured by how "presidential on the world stage (he is), having meetings in Riyadh with not only the Saudi leadership and the GCC leadership but leaders from throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds; the imagery that will emerge from visiting Israel and the Holy Land," said Danin. "You know, also being in Bethlehem, all of the images of the president being presidential, visiting these very important political and religious sites, will be the success." Before leaving Rome to Brussels, Trump will also meet with President Mattarella. The next morning, he will deliver remarks at NATO's memorial. Before returning to the US, Trump, joined by US Defense Secretary James Mattis, will participate in the NATO leaders' meeting. (end) ak.hb