US President Donald Trump stated the US has “no stronger partner” than Saudi Arabia during his initial significant foreign trip – a high-speed tour of Gulf states primarily aimed at bolstering investment. Day one of the tour involved the two parties agreeing a $142bn (£107bn) arms deal, and other investments which Saudi Arabia’s crown prince indicated could be worth as much as $1tn in the future.
Trump also took Saudi Arabia as the first overseas stop during his first term in 2017. The rest of his tour will consist of Qatar and the UAE stops. Trump spoke for almost an hour in Riyadh and also stated that the US would be removing sanctions on Syria to provide the nation “a chance at greatness”
Trump’s arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was greeted with a grand welcome, including a lavish lavender-coloured carpet rolled out to welcome him. He had even worn a purple tie to match. Riyadh replaced red carpets with lavender in 2021, stating that it was a symbol of the kingdom’s desert wildflowers and hospitality.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted Trump on the runway and gave an honour guard of Arabian horses to escort his presidential limo. Later, Trump declared in a speech: “I like him a lot.” The pomp and ceremony were a far cry from the subdued welcome for US President Joe Biden, who branded Saudi Arabia a “pariah” nation after the killing of an opposition journalist, before he went to the oil-rich country to plead for their assistance in reducing petrol prices, fist-bumping with the crown prince.
Trump flew to the Gulf to negotiate business and pleaded in his speech that it is under this type of trade and economic progress that the Middle East would overcome violence and discord.
