Trump begins Middle East tour with strategic pact signed in Saudi Arabia
The centerpiece of Trump’s visit to Riyadh is a reaffirmation by Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in the United States over the coming years
U.S. President Donald Trump has begun his first trip to the Middle East since returning to the White House, kicking off the tour in Saudi Arabia with a major strategic economic agreement signed alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). The multi-billion-dollar deal signals a deepening of U.S.-Saudi economic and security ties.
During his arrival at Riyadh Airport, Trump was personally received by the Crown Prince in a high-profile welcome ceremony at the grand reception hall, where Arabic coffee was served by attendants in ceremonial attire, according to dw.com
The occasion was also attended by prominent global business leaders, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who engaged in a brief exchange with both Trump and MBS.
The centerpiece of Trump’s visit to Riyadh is a reaffirmation by Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in the United States over the coming years.
This package includes a substantial $142 billion arms deal and extends into critical sectors like artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure. On Tuesday, chipmaker Nvidia and the Saudi government announced a new partnership to advance digital transformation in the Kingdom.
“We have the biggest business leaders in the world here today, and they’re going to walk away with a lot of checks,” Trump said during remarks at the Royal Court, joking that the investment figure “should be $1 trillion,” though no details were provided to support the comment.
The White House emphasized that the agreement marks a cornerstone of the administration’s efforts to revitalize American industry and reinforce alliances in a strategically vital region.
In addition to economic discussions, Trump and the Crown Prince are expected to hold closed-door talks addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the conflict in Gaza, and global oil market stability.
Trump’s itinerary also includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. However, controversy has surrounded the trip even before it began. Ethics watchdogs have raised alarms over reports that Qatar is gifting Trump a luxury airliner — described by some as a “flying palace” — calling it a clear conflict of interest. The White House has not commented on the matter.
In a surprise diplomatic move, Trump is also scheduled to meet Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday while still in Saudi Arabia. “The President agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow,” the White House said in a brief statement.
Trump’s Middle East tour is being closely watched as a test of his administration’s ability to advance U.S. interests through a blend of economic diplomacy, strategic defense pacts, and controversial personal engagements.
