U.S. President Donald Trump began a four-day visit to the Gulf region on Tuesday, prioritizing major economic agreements over regional security concerns such as the Gaza conflict and tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.
Landing first in Riyadh, Trump was accompanied by a delegation of influential American business figures including Tesla CEO Elon Musk. His itinerary includes stops in Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Notably, Israel is not on his travel list.
The Saudi-US Investment Forum, taking place in Riyadh, was launched with visuals symbolizing the historic ties between the two nations. Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih highlighted the evolving relationship, saying, “While energy is still vital, our partnership now spans multiple industries with growing opportunities.”
Among the notable attendees were BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen A. Schwartzman, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Fink noted the transformation of Saudi Arabia over the past two decades, saying it has moved from being a follower to a leader in diversifying its economy.
The deep-rooted U.S.-Saudi relationship has long been based on a strategic exchange — oil for security. As Trump’s Air Force One landed, it was ceremonially escorted by Saudi F-15 fighter jets.
Trump’s regional agenda also includes a potential visit to Turkey on Thursday, where he may hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to seek a resolution to the war in Ukraine.
Despite pressing issues in Gaza and Iran, Trump’s Gulf tour will mostly concentrate on business deals. The U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar are expected to unveil investment commitments that could total in the trillions of dollars. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments, with Trump now aiming to secure a full trillion.
Traveling with Trump are key administration figures including Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Reports suggest a massive U.S. arms package for Saudi Arabia, possibly exceeding $100 billion, may be on the table — including transport aircraft like the C-130.
Interestingly, normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel — once a top priority in Trump’s foreign policy — is expected to be left off the discussion table for now. Tensions over Gaza and disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Palestinian statehood remain major hurdles.
Trump’s visits to Qatar and the UAE will also focus heavily on trade and economic partnerships. Notably, Qatar is reportedly gifting Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8, intended to be converted into a future Air Force One and eventually donated to his presidential library — a move raising eyebrows among ethics experts.
