The Barak Obama presidency from 2009 to 2017 was marked by silence and uncertainties. There was much ambiguity in the US administration at that time, especially when confronting terrorism and dealing with the Arab Spring of 2011. This was in marked contrast with earlier President George Bush, whose administration had a clear set of policies towards the Middle East in general and its Arab allies in particular – regardless of what the policy would eventually achieve. Despite the stagnation of US politics in the Middle East under the Obama administration, the Saudi authorities continued with their efforts to fight terrorism, particularly the kind spread by countries of the region, such as Iran, with financial and logistic support. Iran has had imperialistic ambitions over the entire Islamic world ever since Khomeini assumed power in Iran in 1979. This was fueled further in the absence of an effective American role. In fact, this waning American role in the region has been one of the major factors that has led to an increasing role being played by Russia in the Middle East, particularly in the Syrian conflict. Despite all this, the Saudi authorities continued their fight against terrorism and formed the biggest Islamic coalition in modern history, the Islamic Military Alliance, on December 15, 2015. It is aimed at "fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; whatever is its doctrine and name," as stated in the declaration of the alliance. The 41-member alliance has a joint operations room headquartered in Riyadh. When Trump took over as the 45th US president on January 20, he also bore the responsibility of restoring America's role in the Middle East as against in the past when it played a mute spectator to the unfolding developments. The crimes that led to the displacement of Arabs, particularly those in Syria, had left little room for hope. Trump is now trying to be a lead player and an ally to restore US dominance in the interest of the countries of the Middle East, severely hit by terrorism. Syria and Yemen are the worst sufferers. His visit to the Kingdom, and thereon to Israel and Rome, indicates that he wants to reinvigorate Saudi-American relations. The visit received top priority as against other foreign trips. The Saudi government enjoys economic and political weight in the Islamic world. At the same time, the Kingdom is the custodian of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. It is beacon of guidance to Muslims from around the world. President Trump's visit to the three nations is in fact a trip across three religions, as observed by National Security Advisor Herbert McMaster in his press brief. He said the visit was aimed at sending "one single message" to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. He further said that Trump would urge all Muslim leaders during a King Salman-hosted summit, to fight Al-Qaida, Daesh, Iran and the Syrian regime who are spreading chaos and violence. He pointed out that the visit has a message of hope, peace and prosperity for the entire world and between these three religions. Trump is trying to unite people of all faiths around a common vision of peace security and prosperity. McMaster also pointed out that the visit to the Kingdom would initiate moves to establish the strongest and deepest security partnerships with US allies in the Gulf, and with Arabs and Muslims. Trump is due to participate in three summits – one with the Kingdom led by King Salman, a summit with GCC leaders, and one summit with the Arab and Muslim leaders. Whatever has been stated by McMaster is seen as a political triumph for the Saudis who are leading the Islamic military alliance. The alliance has taken up a number of humanitarian issues which were foremost in the minds of the Arab nations. There were some who wanted to set aside the Syrian revolution and Houthi terrorism in Yemen, in both of which Iran is involved, spreading chaos by providing logistic support and killing thousands of innocent people.
