DONALD Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin a closely watched diplomatic tour of the Middle East, with planned visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
AP reported today that his arrival comes as regional tensions spike, particularly surrounding Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza and concerns over Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The US president’s first stop is Riyadh, where he is scheduled to meet Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Talks are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear programme, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, energy security, and wider regional stability.
Trump’s visit comes just two months after a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed, leading to intensified Israeli military operations in Gaza.
A blockade on essential supplies has deepened the humanitarian crisis there. At the same time, Iran — a regional rival of Saudi Arabia and a fierce opponent of Israel — is reported to be nearing the threshold for developing nuclear weapons.
In a statement on his arrival, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih welcomed Trump and praised US-Saudi ties.
“Our bilateral relationship is one of the world’s most significant geostrategic bonds, with economic cooperation and business partnerships at its core, and serves as a force for peace and global prosperity,” he said.
Al-Falih reaffirmed Crown Prince Mohammed’s pledge of \$600 billion in investment in the United States over the next four years. “When Saudis and Americans join forces, very good things happen — more often than not, great things happen,” he said, describing the relationship as based on “unshakable trust and partnership.”
In a rare diplomatic gesture, Crown Prince Mohammed personally greeted Trump on the tarmac in Riyadh — a sign of the close rapport the kingdom seeks with the former US leader. Such greetings are typically reserved for heads of state and are rarely extended by the crown prince himself.
Trump is expected to announce a series of deals during his tour, including agreements on artificial intelligence, energy cooperation, and potentially new arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, the US approved a \$3.5 billion sale of air-to-air missiles to the kingdom.
The visit also coincides with the Trump Organisation’s business interests in the region. Major real estate developments involving the company are underway in Jeddah, Dubai and Qatar — including a luxury hotel, a high-rise tower, and a golf and villa complex.
Trump has also floated the idea of making a detour to Turkey, where Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to hold talks in Istanbul later this week to explore potential avenues for peace in Ukraine. “If I believe my presence would help, I’m ready to go,” he said.
Meanwhile, Trump’s reported readiness to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft as a gift from Qatar’s ruling family has raised fresh concerns over ethics and transparency. US officials have indicated that the aircraft could potentially be converted into a presidential jet. - May 13, 2025
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