President Trump is set to court major tensions on his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia next week, where he's expected to declare that the US will officially recognise the Persian Gulf as either the "Arabian Gulf" or the "Gulf of Arabia.

Trump is again diverging from U.S. presidential habit by choosing the Middle East, not Canada or Mexico, for the first foreign trip of his second term. He's hoping to do deals with three of the region's wealthiest countries.

As in his first term, the president chose the Persian Gulf for his debut abroad, focusing less on diplomacy and more on business.

Trump’s first policy-driven overseas visit in his second term will be the Persian Gulf. Trade, Tehran talks and possibly Gaza will be on the agenda.

The US president will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but not Israel as relations are currently strained