Riyadh (Agencies): US President Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, marking the first stop of his Middle East tour. The visit, described by the White House as “historic,” aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
Upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport, Trump was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) with a lavish welcome ceremony, including a 21-gun salute and a procession of Arabian horsemen escorting his presidential limousine to the Royal Court. The Saudi-US Investment Forum, a key event during the visit, has attracted top executives from Boeing, Google, Amazon, Coca-Cola, BlackRock, and Palantir, alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is expected to play a significant role in discussions on AI and energy investments2.
A major focus of the visit is securing financial investments from Saudi Arabia, with Trump reportedly pushing for a $1 trillion investment into the US economy, up from a previously pledged $600 billion. The discussions are expected to cover defense contracts, aviation deals, energy partnerships, and AI collaborations. Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia may announce a $100 billion arms deal with the US, further deepening military cooperation5.
Trump’s visit also comes amid ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, with both sides expressing optimism following recent talks in Oman. Additionally, Trump is set to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Riyadh, where regional security and economic cooperation will be discussed.
The US stock market responded positively to the visit, with Dow futures rising 1.1%, S&P 500 futures up 1.5%, and Nasdaq Composite gaining 2.1%. Chinese markets also saw gains, with the CSI 300 up 0.6%, Shanghai Composite climbing 0.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rising 0.9%.
Trump’s Middle East tour will continue with visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where further economic agreements and diplomatic discussions are expected. The visit signals a renewed US commitment to regional partnerships and economic collaboration.