Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia as first stop on major Gulf tour
US President Donald Trump embarked on his first tour, which will take him to three Middle Eastern countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The White House leader arrived in the region amid nuclear negotiations with Iran, the war in Gaza, and the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
US President Donald Trump has launched a tour of the Middle East, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, to discuss Washington's bilateral relations with those countries, where he is expected to sign lucrative economic agreements
But his priorities also include addressing outstanding issues in the region, such as nuclear talks with Iran, the free movement of goods through the Red Sea, the foundations for a possible solution to the war in Gaza, and the complex Syrian situation following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Trump is expected to focus his tour on these three energy-rich nations, which are home to existing or planned Trump-branded real estate projects, where he hopes to leverage U.S. economic interests to seal trade deals, especially in Qatar, which is preparing to give away the new Air Force One.
The US president was greeted at the Royal Terminal of Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport by Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as "MBS" and considered Saudi Arabia's strongman, who extended his hand at the foot of the aircraft stairs before escorting him to the airport's Royal Lounge. In January, Bin Salman pledged to contribute $600 billion in U.S. trade and investment.
The presidential plane was escorted upon arrival in the country by up to six Saudi F-15 fighter-bombers, following an uneventful trip from the United States, according to reports from journalists accompanying the president and shared on his social media channels
During his stay in the wealthy and influential Arab kingdom, Trump plans to inaugurate a U.S.-Saudi investment forum and will be hosted by senior officials from the Saudi royal family. According to a senior Saudi official, Riyadh will push ahead with the acquisition of the latest F-35 fighter jets.
On the diplomatic front, the Saudi government also stated that it hopes to achieve "common interests and a common vision" with the president. Indeed, the country, through its Minister of State, emphasized in a press conference that it is closely following developments in the region and the world, and reiterated its categorical rejection of Israel's announcement of an incursion and control of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories. Therefore, the Palestinian cause is expected to be on the table.
After ending the ceasefire two months ago, Israel is intensifying the war in the Gaza Strip, where the blockade of food, medicine, and other supplies is worsening the humanitarian crisis. Iran, Israel's archenemy and Saudi Arabia's rival, will also be in the spotlight.
Qatar, Trump's second stop, will include meetings with the Emir and a list related to military cooperation, as the country hosts the largest overseas military base, and regional security. Doha, now a close ally of Damascus, will also seek the lifting of long-standing US sanctions against Syria, a move that came at a time when Bashar al-Assad occupied the presidential palace.
The United Arab Emirates will be the final stop on this tour. The country has already announced a $1.4 billion investment this year in semiconductors, manufacturing, and energy. But one of the strategic areas it is focusing on is artificial intelligence. In an attempt to diversify its economy, the country is facing a series of restrictions imposed by the Biden era that it hopes to eliminate with Trump's visit.
The White House hailed the trip as historic, one of Trump's most significant foreign trips in the first months of his second term. During his first term, Trump also chose Saudi Arabia as the destination for his first foreign trip