U.S. President Donald Trump began his Gulf visit on Tuesday, prioritizing mega investment deals over security concerns as he arrived in Saudi Arabia. Accompanied by top U.S. business leaders, including Elon Musk, Trump was welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) in Riyadh, where the Saudi-US Investment Forum was held.
The tour will take Trump to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, but he has not scheduled a stop in Israel, raising questions about its place in Washington’s priorities.
Trump is aiming to secure trillions of dollars in investments from Gulf oil states, focusing on diversifying the region’s economy. At the Saudi-US forum, investment officials discussed large-scale projects, including the kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms and futuristic endeavors like NEOM. Musk and other business leaders joined Trump for a lunch with MbS.
The U.S.-Saudi relationship has been strengthened under Trump, with smooth ties between the president and MbS despite past tensions with the Biden administration. Trump, who has already pushed for a new Gaza ceasefire, is also expected to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth over $100 billion.