Tech, AI Partnerships with Middle East Will Lock Out China (From FOX News)

AI deals stole the show during President Donald J. Trump’s Middle East trip, capping off with a US-UAE agreement on May 15 to build a massive AI data center in Abu Dhabi.  Since Trump signed his first Executive Order on AI back in 2019, keeping the U.S. ahead of China in the field of artificial intelligence has become a top foreign policy priority.  Two interviews on FOX News on May 14 and May 16 covered the new prominence of AI and national security and why it’s imperative to score deals for U.S. companies, not China.

Joining Fox and Friends hosts Brian Kilmeade, Lawrence Jones and Ainsley Earhardt as they covered President Trump’s arrival in Qatar on May 14, the discussion turned to economics and AI.  “I love that this is one big, beautiful business trip.  This is the way we will solidify our leadership, we will get ahead in our technology and economic race with China,” I said.  “It’s so important to do not only the security deals, but the economic foundation with these important allies and partners in the region and around the world.   CIip here.  

“Across the region, and Qatar is no exception, these states that have made their wealth through oil now want to move into high technology, into nuclear energy and renewable energy,” I pointed out.  “They want to be big in AI and the other things that will so dominate the 21^st Century, and they’re looking to US partnerships there as well.”  Clip here.  Qatar is “an important deal partner, if you will, in the new politics and the new policies of the Middle East.”

All this adds up to new priorities in national security.  On Friday, May 16, this was the topic of discussion with Fox and Friends First hosts Todd Piro and Carly Shimkus.  “Long term, the US has a new basis for foreign policy,” I told them.  “Long-term, the tech and AI partnerships with the Middle East will lock out China and that may be the single most significant piece of business done on this trip.”

Todd Piro played a clip of President Trump at a roundtable in the UAE. “Things were not going good.  Other people were courting the Middle East, but they won’t waste their time courting them any longer,” Trump said

In my opinion, “President Trump is getting ROI – return on investment – for American foreign policy.  That’s going to be the new basis going forward.  It’s going to be a historic shift that will benefit the US and benefit the region.” 

Carly Shimkus asked about criticism of the chips deals from Capitol Hill.  She noted that Sen. Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor said these deals could be dangerous because we have no clarity on how the Saudis and the Emiratis will prevent Chinese manufacturing from getting their hands on these chips.  “So what do you think about that?” Shimkus asked.  “Is there any is there any validity to that concern?”

“No, excellent question,” I replied.  “This has been very well thought out.  President Trump will allow Nvidia and other to sell high tech chips for AI to Saudi, and the UAE.  This is essential so that China does not come in and make those sales.  We don’t want China building Saudi and UAE AI.  We don’t want them in Xi Jinping’s lap.  The Commerce Department will very tightly control this.  The most high-end chips are not going to them, but the other chips that are widely sold on the global market are.  That’s really good for our U.S. companies, that need to make profits to keep us ahead of China in AI.  It is a good deal, and it will be closely monitored.”

Watch full clip here.