Welcome to the Thursday, May 15th, 2025 edition of Denison Forum's Daily Article podcast. Today's

daily article is written by our senior editor for theology, Dr. Ryan Dennison, and narrated by Chris Elkins.

President Trump's visit to the Middle East marks the first major foreign trip off his second term,

that he chose meetings with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and representatives

from the surrounding nations over America's established allies should not be overlooked.

To be sure, the economics of a proposed $600 billion deal with Saudi Arabia,

including the sale of nearly $142 billion worth of weapons,

and the chance to establish a more open market with the other countries in the region,

are not insignificant.

However, the political opportunities of closer ties with nations

that have often, and for good reason, been kept at arm's length in the past, could be the most

important part of the president's trip. In a speech on Tuesday, Trump told a gathering of political

and business leaders that, quote, some of the closest friends of the United States of America are nations we fought wars against

in generations past. And now there are friends and our allies, in quote.

While his statement fell short of declaring such alliances with those in attendance,

it was a clear indication that his

administration was more focused on the road ahead than on what has happened in the past.

But that stance was best epitomized in Trump's approach to Syria.

In a speech later that day, the president announced that he would remove sanctions on the war-torn nation,

noting that the sanctions served, quote, an important function, but now it's Syria's time to shine,

end quote. He went on to credit Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, with leading the push to

open greater opportunities for the new Syrian government before meeting

...