Riyadh (TDI): U.S. President Donald Trump has commenced a four-day visit to the Gulf region today, arriving in Saudi Arabia as the first stop on a tour aimed at strengthening economic partnerships and exploring new investment opportunities.
President Trump’s visit comes amid ongoing regional and global tensions, but his focus in Saudi Arabia remains primarily economic. Saudi Arabia has reportedly pledged up to $600 billion in future investment, with Trump expressing hope for increased commitments.
Notably, Trump’s Middle East visit does not include a stop in Israel, drawing attention from observers questioning shifts in regional diplomacy. However, Trump is expected to hold talks in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later this week, and may also visit Turkey for discussions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Trump upon arrival. The Crown Prince’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to diversify the Saudi economy beyond oil, featured prominently in forum conversations.
Accompanied by a delegation of high-profile American business leaders, Trump attended the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, which brought together key stakeholders from both nations.
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The forum was attended by leaders from major financial and tech firms, including Larry Fink of BlackRock, Stephen A. Schwarzman of Blackstone, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
The forum, designed to facilitate bilateral cooperation and promote economic diversification, featured discussions on trade, energy, technology, and infrastructure development.
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih opened the event, noting that the economic relationship between the two countries has expanded significantly in recent years. “While energy remains vital, the scope of our economic engagement now spans multiple sectors,” said Falih.
Discussions also included potential U.S. arms sales to the Kingdom, reportedly valued at over $100 billion.
U.S. officials noted that broader geopolitical issues—including efforts to restart Gaza ceasefire negotiations and the possibility of resuming dialogue on Iran’s nuclear program—remain important areas of concern, though not the central agenda of this trip.
Areeba Kanwal is a contributor at The Diplomatic Insight and has passion for International Relations and diplomacy.
