Trump in Saudi Arabia: billion-dollar deals and looming tensions

Trump in Saudi Arabia: billion-dollar deals and looming tensions

US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin a four-day tour of the Gulf region. There will be a significant economic focus on this trip, as Trump will attend a Saudi-American investment forum in Riyadh alongside a prominent business delegation that also includes Tesla boss Elon Musk.

The focus of the talks are planned economic agreements worth up to a trillion dollars. Saudi Arabia has already pledged $600 billion in investments in the United States over the next four years. Upon his arrival, Trump was personally welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the growing partnership between the two countries.

Planned investments and weapons package

Trump is seeking a total investment of $1 trillion, which will include both private and government investments. As part of these grandiose plans, a weapons package worth over 100 billion dollars is also expected, which includes advanced weapons technologies. This has received mixed reactions, particularly given the current geopolitical tensions.

While the economic aspects of the trip are highlighted, it should be noted that security issues such as the situation in the Gaza Strip and the conflict over Iran's nuclear program are only touched on in passing. Trump and his delegation, which includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and leaders from companies like BlackRock and Blackstone, will focus more on economic issues.

Further stays in Qatar and the UAE

After visiting Saudi Arabia, Trump will travel to Qatar on Wednesday and visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday. In Qatar, the royal family plans to gift the US president a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft, which could further cement diplomatic ties. Trump could also make a short visit to Turkey, where talks could take place between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky about the war in Ukraine.

The US government, meanwhile, has pushed for a new aid mechanism for the Gaza Strip and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, the Iranian Chief of General Staff warned of possible aggression against Iran during Trump's visit. It remains to be seen how the political situation will develop during this trip, which marks Trump's first major foreign trip in his new term in office.