By Nitya Chakraborty Soon after organizing a 90 day truce last week end at Geneva through three day intensive talks between top officials of the United States and China, President Donald Trump is on a three nation tour covering Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE to pursue his deal making focusing on both trade and security. […]The US Federal Reserve has stopped sugar-coating it: stagflation is no longer a fringe fear. It’s a looming threat. Last week’s sharp warning from Chair Jerome Powell confirmed what many of us in the global financial community have anticipated for months. Slower growth, persistent inflation, and rising unemployment are converging in a way that should set off alarm bells for investors worldwide. Make no mistake—this isn’t an […]
By Sushil Kutty The western Press is egging United States President Donald Trump to press India for third-party mediation in the Kashmir imbroglio roiling India-Pakistan relations, while at the same time asserting that Trump has put India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a “tight spot”. Prime Minister Modi wasn’t asked for his opinion […]Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump’s ambitious pursuit of $1 trillion in investment pledges from Saudi Arabia is encountering a formidable challenge: the kingdom’s own sweeping economic transformation plans, which are projected to cost nearly twice that amount. As Trump embarks on his first Middle East tour of his second term, his administration is focusing on securing substantial trade and investment agreements with Gulf allies, including […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India in a very advantageous position vis a vis Pakistan in the limited war that lasted for four days beginning early hours of May 7. The ceasefire that took effect from 5 PM of May 10 was more engineered by desperate Pakistan which hoodwinked the US […]
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues to assert his influence in the global energy markets, a strategy that has far-reaching implications not only for the kingdom’s domestic policies but also for its relationship with the United States. Recent moves to reduce oil production as a means of boosting global oil prices have drawn international attention, as MBS looks to solidify his standing with key economic players, including former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the evolving relationship between the two figures is far from straightforward, as both appear to have their own agendas in mind.
The Saudi decision to slash oil output in recent months comes on the back of increasing pressure to stabilise global oil prices, which had been fluctuating due to global economic instability and shifting energy demands. By reducing production, Saudi Arabia has not only asserted its dominance within OPEC but also sent a clear signal to the global market that it has the leverage to influence pricing dynamics.
This move directly impacts oil markets in the U.S., a key trading partner for Saudi Arabia. As a major importer of oil, the United States is highly sensitive to fluctuations in oil prices. For Trump, whose policies focused on energy independence and bolstering U.S. oil production, the actions of MBS represent a clear challenge to his broader economic goals. The former U.S. president’s embrace of the kingdom, characterised by lucrative arms deals and a focus on maintaining strong bilateral ties, suggests that any tension between the two figures could have significant geopolitical consequences.
For MBS, maintaining close relations with the U.S. remains a critical aspect of his strategy. He has worked tirelessly to secure arms deals and other investments from the U.S., ensuring that the kingdom remains a key player in global economic and political circles. However, the Crown Prince has also sought to diversify Saudi Arabia’s global alliances, looking toward China and Russia for alternatives in the wake of fluctuating U.S. domestic politics.
While Saudi Arabia’s actions in the oil market may be seen as a tactical move to assert its power within OPEC, there is also an undercurrent of economic diversification within the kingdom. MBS has long been an advocate for economic reform, including his ambitious Vision 2030 plan, which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and foster other sectors like technology, entertainment, and tourism. These long-term goals often put him at odds with traditional partners like the U.S., who benefit from the current structure of the global oil market.
MBS’s strategy of reducing oil production comes at a time when the U.S. is attempting to navigate its own challenges within global energy markets. Biden’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of oil prices and its response to OPEC’s decision to cut production. There have been mounting calls for the U.S. to reassert its influence over global energy policy, especially as rising fuel prices continue to affect domestic inflation. Trump, during his tenure, positioned himself as a champion of American energy interests, and his critique of OPEC’s actions highlights the ongoing tension between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia over energy policy.
The dynamics of this relationship are further complicated by political realities within the U.S. The upcoming presidential election, with Trump seeking to regain power, could see a shift in how the U.S. engages with Saudi Arabia. Trump’s previous tenure saw him pursuing an “America First” policy that frequently placed him at odds with traditional allies, including Saudi Arabia. His emphasis on energy independence and a focus on domestic oil production often ran counter to Saudi interests, particularly as MBS sought to maintain control over global oil pricing.
Despite these tensions, there remains a mutual interest in maintaining a working relationship. Saudi Arabia’s desire to secure arms deals and investments from the U.S. continues to be a driving factor in their engagement with Trump and other American leaders. Meanwhile, Trump’s political aspirations likely hinge on securing economic benefits from Saudi Arabia, whether through increased oil production or strategic investments in U.S. infrastructure. These mutual interests, though at times misaligned, provide the foundation for ongoing negotiations between the two figures.
By Nitya Chakraborty The joint declaration issued by the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese President Xi Jinping on the eve of the Victory Day on May 9 upholding longstanding friendship to pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in the new era carries major significance in the present period of global tariff war as […]
By Nitya Chakraborty It is now official. After waiting for a few days since Donald Trump diluted the U.S. tariff rates for China and announced his intention for talks, China confirmed on Wednesday morning that a high level Chinese negotiating team will be visiting Switzerland for four days beginning May 9 to hold talks with […]
By Subrata Majumder India has emerged as the second most attractive destination for Japanese investors in Asia, after Singapore. It surpassed China, the most attractive place for Japanese investment in Asia for over four decades. Hitherto, India was eighth in 2020 in terms of getting investment from Japan. Latest Japanese interest in India manifests a […]A stablecoin developed by World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump, is being utilised by an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm to facilitate a substantial $2bn investment in Binance, the world’s leading crypto exchange. The disclosure was made by one of World Liberty’s co-founders on Thursday, shedding light on the growing involvement of the Trump family in the cryptocurrency sector. World Liberty, […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Ten days have passed since the gruesome killings of 26 people at Pahalgam on April 22. In the following days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a lead to the boiling mood of the nation by announcing a number of measures, including the suspension of the 1960-signed Indus Water Treaty, followed by Pakistan’s […]Eric Trump, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has issued a stark warning to the global banking industry: without embracing cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, banks could face extinction within the next decade. In a bold statement, he emphasised that financial institutions must adapt to the evolving landscape of digital finance or risk being rendered obsolete by the rise of decentralised financial systems. Trump’s remarks come at a […]
By K Raveendran Trump’s aggressive tariff war with China – built on a throwback protectionist logic more suited to the 1800s than today’s intertwined economy – has driven Chinese firms to redeploy their strategies. Major Chinese exporters, now facing punitive U.S. tariffs as high as 145 percent, are desperately seeking other markets and partners. Chinese […]
By Nitya Chakraborty The United States of America President Donald J. Trump has completed his first one hundred days in office in his second non-consecutive term on April 29, Tuesday amidst continuing global disorder over his chaotic policies — unilateral tariffs hike, failure to establish peace in Gaza with Israeli killing spree continuing unabated and […]
By Nantoo Banerjee Hit by the massive US import tariff, export-led China seems to have gone crazy as its No.1 export destination, the United States of America, has suddenly gone out of reach after US President Donald Trump’s prohibitive import tariff on China. Shockingly, China has issued a warning against countries seeking to strike a […]Matein Khalid The last time the U.S. Dollar Index plummeted 9% in the first four months of a year was way back in 1973, when Richard Nixon sat in the White House on the eve of Watergate, the October War in the Sinai/Gulan, the Arab oil boycott and a savage 40% bear market in U.S. equities. Last week provided a respite from the tsunami of greenback selling […]
By K Raveendran U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s declaration that India could be the first to finalise a trade deal with the United States after President Trump embarked on his reckless trade war against the world signals a strategic point. The proposed agreement offers India an escape hatch from the looming 26 percent reciprocal tariffs […]Dr Imran Khalid President Donald Trump’s erratic dance with tariffs continues to confound not just global markets but even his own team. On April 22, in a move that underscored the White House’s habitual policy incoherence, Trump declared that the “very high” tariffs on Chinese goods would soon be “substantially reduced.” This comes after days of raising them dramatically at the start of the month, then selectively exempting key electronics sectors – moves that reflect both strategic […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Three days have passed since the savage terrorist attack at Pahalgam resulting in the death of 26 people, mostly tourists. The communal tenor of the massacre shocked the Indian people. There was unequivocal demand from the people supported by all sections of the political parties that the Narendra Modi government must take […]
By Satyaki Chakraborty Vietnam has shown how a well calibrated trade diplomacy can be conducted in the year 2025 amidst the ongoing tariff war between the two biggest economic and military powers of the world USA and China. Both countries are having best trade relations with this South East Asian nation which is a sort […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Chinese President Xi Jinping has won the first round in the protracted battle against Donald Trump over his declaration of tariff war against China. After waiting for long three weeks for a personal call from XI Jinping offering talks to discuss the proposed tariff hikes, Trump partially retreated on Tuesday when he […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser to the interim government Dr. Muhammad Yunus is presently in the midst of his diplomatic triumph by successfully outreaching to the major countries of the world including the two super powers. After having a major success in getting all the support from the Chinese President Xi Jinping during his […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Though there is a 90 day pause in Trump’s latest unilateral imposition of reciprocal tariffs on most of the countries, the trade war between the USA and China, the two largest economies of the world is in full steam imparting tremors in global trade and economy. Close advisers of Trump were expecting […]
By K Raveendran In both foolhardiness in decision making and shameless flip-flop in dealing with disastrous aftermaths, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump have exhibited a total lack of honesty in admitting their mistakes. The similarity is too striking to be missed. Thanks to recklessness and impulsiveness in decision making—Narendra Modi with demonetization and Donald Trump […] 
