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Your Guide to What Trump’s Second Season Means Washington, Business and World
The United States announced its allied “fast orbit” investment process just days before President Donald Trump visited Gulf countries where he had pledged to sink billions of dollars into American businesses and infrastructure, including AI.
Gulf countries, which manage 40% of the world’s sovereign wealth and are estimated to be some of the largest US investors, have long lobbyed to ease troublesome management requirements that could slow US spending.
The United Arab Emirates in particular is rushing to partner with American technology companies as they are pushing to become a regional outstanding hub for artificial intelligence. In March, the UAE announced that it would invest 1.4TN in the US over a decade.
The US Treasury Department said Thursday that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIU) will launch a portal to gather information from foreign investors before applying for investment.
The department also said it was “focused on improving the efficiency of the CFIUS process,” allowing it to increase investment from partner countries “with verifiable distance and independence from foreign enemies or threat actors.”
Abu Dhabi has tried to convince US officials that they chose to partner with the US on AI, avoiding China and wanting better access to the powerful semiconductors created by US companies such as Nvidia.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said the agency is “committed to maintaining and strengthening an open investment environment that benefits our economy, while ensuring that the efficiency of the process does not diminish our ability to identify and address the national security risks associated with foreign investment.”
President Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week, visiting US executives.
Riyadh has already pledged to invest $600 million in the US over four years, and the UAE has touted investments worth $140 million over the next decade, but analysts expect the details of the investment plan will likely be discussed during the president’s visit.
President Trump signed the US First Investment Policy Directive in February, pledging to prevent investment from Chinese government agencies and other “foreign enemies” while making the US the “world’s largest destination for investment dollars.”
