Trump Plans Saudi Arabia Visit, Hints at Possible Meeting with Putin

TDT | Manama

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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he plans to travel to Saudi Arabia within the next month and a half, emphasizing the strong relationship between the two nations and the Kingdom’s significant investment in American industries.

“I have a great relationship with them, and they’ve been very nice. But they’re going to be spending a lot of money [on] American companies for buying military equipment and other things,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office.

While it remains uncertain if Saudi Arabia will be his first official visit abroad, Trump has hinted that it could be a possibility. During his first term, he broke with tradition by making the Kingdom his first international destination, signaling the importance of U.S.-Saudi ties.

Trump also indicated that he expects to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia at some point but did not confirm if it would take place during this upcoming visit.

Following his inauguration, Trump’s first call with a foreign leader was with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who reportedly expressed the Kingdom’s willingness to invest $600 billion in the United States over four years.

Last month, Trump made history as the first American president to address Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, where he expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s role in facilitating diplomatic talks between Washington and Moscow. He described the Kingdom as a “special place with special leaders.”

As Trump prepares for his visit, all eyes will be on the potential geopolitical implications of his meetings, particularly concerning U.S.-Saudi relations and the evolving dynamics with Russia.