At last President Donald Trump is making his first trip outside the United States at a time of great controversy surrounding the alleged ties between his campaign organisation and Russia.
Before he left the shores of the United States of America, an independent prosecutor has been named to investigate allegations of Russian involvement in the last elections, following the widening gulf that has been created as a result of the ill-timed sack of the head of the FBI.
Presently, Â the world’s strongest leader is in Saudi Arabia on the first lap of his visit to the Middle East. While here, Trump is hoping to rekindle relations between both countries.
But it is what Trump makes of US relations with the Arab world that is of key interest as he visits.
Of course, the trip is not only significant for the Trump administration and the American people who are watching proceedings from the sidelines.
As a super power, the Russians have great interests in the Middle East. It is therefore, not surprising, that they would be keenly monitoring every move by the Americans.
There is the Arab world itself. Trump had made their religion a talking point during the US elections and attempted on arrival in the oval office to implement what has been aptly described as the Muslim ban.
Thus, the first Middle East trip by the American President is expected to provide an anxious Arab world with some insight, especially when it comes to US policy in the region.
The Israelis equally have strong concerns of their own when it comes to American ties with the Arab world. Israel’s ties with the United States had hit an all time low during the Obama years.
The Israelis, from all indications, are expecting under the administration of Donald Trump to be the centrepiece of American foreign policy in the Middle East.
So much is at stake in the Middle East. For so long the region has remained a major flash point. The two state solution brokered by the United Nations which was supposed to usher in peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians  hasn’t really worked.
Iran has registered tremendous progress in its drive to acquire nuclear technology although it continues to claim that it needs it as an energy source for peaceful purposes.
Iraq hasn’t recovered after the American invasion which ousted Sadam Hussein took place. Syria has not been spared either.
There is similarly, the threat that ISIS portends to peace as well as stability in the region and elsewhere in the world.
What trump cards has Trump for the region blessed with resources so great, but which is afflicted by harrowing instability?
What would be the way forward?
So far, Trump’s trip to the Middle East has been off to a good start. Not only have Arab leaders been courteous towards the visiting US President, Trump has in turn initialled some deals.
Of great interest is the proposed sale of weapons which would no doubt fuel the arms race in the region. But, which from the point of view of the Trump administration, would create American jobs and create markets for American goods.
Later today, Trump will address leaders of some major Arab nations excluding those of Iran and Syria, to name but two, who do not enjoy the friendship of Washington.
In doing so, he would be faced with stark reality. The grim realisation for instance, that his utterances could help lower tension or escalate it. The fact that as president, he must appreciate the historic mission of the United States which shape the content of its foreign policy.
Trump’s major handicap since he came to office has been his utterances and I am certain that most Americans would be holding their breathe right now.
Nonetheless, Trump needs this trip, not just to make a statement worldwide, but to calm frayed nerves at home where he is immersed in so many controversies.
To achieve this, Trump must focus on the mission ahead and attempt through diplomatic means to build much needed bridges of cooperation that are required to put the Middle East on the road to peace.
