USA: Trump’s tour poses a risk to global human rights

President Donald Trump is preparing to meet with world leaders in Saudi Arabia on 20 May to forge “a new partnership in confronting extremism and terrorism”. National security and counter-terrorism will be high on the agenda at the summit, which marks the start of a nine-day tour of the Middle East and Europe.

“The world will be watching as President Trump meets with leaders of other states with records of trampling on human rights in the name of national security. We fear this ‘new partnership’ could lay the foundation for further erosion of human rights in the region and far beyond,” said Margaret Huang, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA.

“President Trump will also meet with leaders of countries who are hosting huge numbers of refugees from Syria. They must use the opportunity to voice their concerns about Trump’s attempts to slam the door on people fleeing violence and persecution, and demand that the USA does its fair share to alleviate the global refugee crisis.”

Amnesty International spokespeople are available to comment on:
· President Trump’s Muslim and refugee ban
· The USA’s continued supply of weapons and military assistance to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, despite credible information that these are being used to commit or facilitate war crimes and other serious violations in Yemen
· Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record, which includes the persecution and brutal punishment of human rights activists and critics and systematic discrimination against women
· Saudi Arabia’s use of counter-terrorism legislation to crush dissent
· The potential human rights implications of President Trump’s quest for the “ultimate deal” to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
· Israel’s continued construction and expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), in violation of international law

President Trump will visit Saudi Arabia on 20 and 21 May and Israel on 22 May.
Amnesty International has documented the impact of President Trump’s cruel and inhuman policies towards refugees. These have also been criticized by Pope Francis, who Trump will meet in Vatican City on 24 May.

He will also attend the NATO Summit in Belgium on 25 May, and the G7 Summit in Sicily on 27 May.