U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states during a visit to Riyadh later this month, a source close to the Saudi government confirmed on Sunday.
Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13 to 16 will mark the first foreign visit of his second term, following a brief stop in Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral. The main objective of the meetings in Riyadh is to strengthen political and economic cooperation within the region, according to the anonymous source.
Ahead of the visit, the U.S. approved a $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia. Trump has previously boasted of securing significant commercial deals with the oil-rich kingdom, which has also played a pivotal role in U.S. diplomacy, particularly on Russia and Ukraine issues.
The visit comes as indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program are underway. Trump has warned Iran of continued sanctions and called for a global boycott of Iranian oil, following a delay in nuclear talks.
Trump may also seek to advance a potential normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, though Saudi officials have emphasized that any such agreement requires a resolution to the Gaza conflict and the establishment of a Palestinian state.