US President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that he plans to visit Saudi Arabia in the next month and a half to finalize an agreement for the kingdom to invest $1 trillion in American companies. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump stated that the investment, spread over four years, would primarily focus on military equipment and other key sectors.
“I said, I’ll go if you pay $1 trillion to American companies… and they’ve agreed to do that,” Trump told reporters. He emphasized his strong ties with Saudi Arabia, describing their relationship as “great” and noting that the country had been “very nice.”
Strengthening US-Saudi Relations
Trump’s visit will mark his first overseas trip since returning to the White House. During his first term in office, he also chose Saudi Arabia as his inaugural foreign destination in 2017, announcing a $350 billion Saudi investment at the time. Now, with Saudi Arabia’s growing wealth, Trump highlighted that both countries are positioned for even greater economic collaboration.
Read More: Trump Delays Tariffs on Mexico and Canada Amid Economic …
Saudi Arabia has been playing a central role in US foreign policy, particularly in Middle East affairs. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that the kingdom will soon host a meeting between US and Ukrainian officials to discuss potential ceasefire negotiations in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
A History of Close Business Ties
Trump has long maintained strong business and political relations with Saudi Arabia. The Trump Organization recently announced plans for a Trump Tower in Jeddah, further deepening the connection between the US president and the Gulf nation.
During his first term, Trump made headlines for shielding Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from repercussions following the killing of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He justified this stance by highlighting Saudi Arabia’s significant purchases of American weapons.
Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden initially took a hard stance against Saudi Arabia, pledging to make the crown prince a “pariah” over human rights issues. However, his administration later sought closer ties, including negotiating a draft defense agreement and encouraging Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel.
Saudi Arabia’s Role in US Diplomacy
Trump’s upcoming visit also emphasizes Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence in US diplomatic efforts. In addition to brokering discussions on the Ukraine conflict, the Gulf nation has emerged as a critical partner in economic and security matters.
Trump has expressed his administration’s intent to accelerate negotiations for Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel, a move that would mark a historic shift given the kingdom’s status as the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites.
Read More: Trump accuses Trudeau of using tariffs dispute to ‘stay in power …
The $1 trillion investment deal is expected to further cement the US-Saudi partnership, particularly in defense and military procurement. Trump’s announcement also follows a series of recent high-profile investments in the US economy, including commitments from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Apple.