Trump In Riyadh On First Trip Of Second Term, Focus On Investment, Gulf Ties

From Amirudin Ahmad

RIYADH, May 13 (Bernama) --- President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today for his first international visit since returning to the White House for a second term in January.

He arrived aboard the official Air Force One aircraft, which landed safely at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 9.50 am local time.

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According to international media reports, the visit will centre on the Saudi-US Investment Forum, an exclusive, invite-only event scheduled to take place later today in Riyadh.

The forum is expected to bolster strategic cooperation between the private sectors of both countries, particularly in the fields of energy, technology, and defence.

Trump is also scheduled to attend a summit with Gulf leaders on May 14, before continuing his visit to Doha, Qatar, later in the day.

He is expected to conclude his first official overseas trip of his second term in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on May 15.

Meanwhile, the visit is anticipated to include discussions on various international issues, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, regional security cooperation, and broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The visit to Riyadh, followed by stops in Doha and Abu Dhabi, echoes Trump’s symbolic move in 2017 when he selected Saudi Arabia as the first destination of his overseas tour during his first term as US President.

Once again, choosing Saudi Arabia as the primary destination in his second term underscores the enduring importance of bilateral relations between Washington and Riyadh, particularly in addressing global security challenges and shared economic interests.

Previously, during his first term in the White House, Trump broke with the tradition of past US presidents, who typically visited the United Kingdom first, by choosing Saudi Arabia as his initial foreign destination.

-- BERNAMA