President Donald Trump embarks Monday on the first major international trip of his second term – an opportunity to shore up relations with a trio of key Middle Eastern allies and prove his might as a dealmaker on the world stage.

President Trump has always viewed the presidency as a worldwide hunt for deals. And there is no better place for that than the Gulf, where a few men wield absolute authority over vast wealth.

Just as he did in his first term as president, Trump is upending decades of diplomatic protocol and choosing to embark on his first major foreign trip with a visit to Saudi Arabia. He’ll continue this week to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,