Saudi Arabia invests 600 billion dollars – Trump celebrates mega deal!
Saudi Arabia is investing $600 billion in the US, including defense projects and AI, as Trump strengthens diplomatic ties.
Saudi Arabia invests 600 billion dollars – Trump celebrates mega deal!
Saudi Arabia and the United States signed a stunning agreement worth a total of $600 billion on Tuesday. A key part of this deal includes the purchase of US weapons systems worth over $140 billion. According to 20min.ch Saudi Arabia plans to invest a total of $600 billion in the USA, with a focus on energy and space projects.
The comprehensive arms agreement includes air and sea defense systems, border protection measures and the training of soldiers. Saudi Arabia is also aiming to acquire the state-of-the-art US F-35 fighter jet. The Saudi Arabian company Datavolt has announced that it will invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence (AI). These are significant steps in the Kingdom's vision to expand its military and technological capabilities.
A significant visit
US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia accompanied by key cabinet members and business leaders, including Elon Musk. Trump received a pompous reception at the airport from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His journey not only takes him to Saudi Arabia, but also to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump had previously rejected critical voices when it came to his plans to use a luxury jet from Qatar as a presidential plane.
A stopover in Israel is not planned, which points to the unsuccessful efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, Trump announced the release of US-Israeli dual national Edan Alexander from the hands of Hamas. Saudi Arabia also served as a venue for negotiations between representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the United States over the Ukraine crisis.
Complex negotiations in the Middle East
Since 2023, the USA has been in negotiations with Saudi Arabia on a variety of agreements, which also include a desired peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. This rapprochement began as early as 2015 in response to Iran's expansionist efforts. Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have taken different approaches to promoting peace between the two countries during their presidencies. Trump indicated that he wanted to revive the project of a peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
However, the negotiations are difficult because the partners have different goals and Riyadh is implementing a more independent policy. A successful conclusion could be considered a historic event and contribute to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Saudi Arabia is currently demanding concrete steps towards a Palestinian state, which further complicates the negotiations.
The Biden administration has resumed talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, although Biden had previously taken a distant stance toward Bin Salman. The geopolitical situation forces cooperation, which influences the dynamics in the region. Saudi Arabia has fundamentally changed its foreign policy since 2019 and is striving for a more independent role without allowing itself to be drawn into global conflicts.
The dynamic developments of recent years have increased Israel's interest in peace with Saudi Arabia, as both states have common enemies. Despite these positive trends, potential peace between these countries remains a difficult undertaking. How the negotiations unfold will affect not only the future of Saudi Arabia, but also the entire geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.