Donald Trump touched down in Saudi Arabia early Tuesday morning to a warm welcome by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he began the first leg of a whirlwind Gulf tour. Business deals are at the top of the U.S. president’s busy agenda that also takes in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The four-day, multi-nation diplomatic sweep marks Trump’s first major visit abroad of his second term with the White House saying he looked forward to a “historic return” to the region, AFP notes.
Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in the capital Riyadh.
The Saudi royal family plans a lavish stay for the 78-year-old Republican who will also address an investment forum.
The president will take part in a summit of Gulf Arab leaders Tuesday before heading to Qatar.
Trump’s visit came after he said Monday he’s ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar and thanked them for the gesture.
“White House sources have indicated that the president will focus on ‘deals’,” wrote Daniel B. Shapiro, a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, according to the AFP report.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump will promote a vision where “extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges.”
The Gulf states have positioned themselves as key diplomatic partners during Trump’s second term.
Doha remains a major broker for negotiations between Hamas and Israel, while Saudi Arabia has facilitated talks on the war in Ukraine.
