U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his Gulf tour with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, securing a major strategic economic agreement and pledging deep investment ties between the two nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump began his Gulf tour on Tuesday with a ceremonial welcome in Saudi Arabia, where he signed a wide-ranging strategic economic agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The deal, announced during the Riyadh Summit, covers energy, defence, mining, and other key sectors, and is intended to deepen bilateral cooperation as the kingdom pursues economic diversification under Vision 2030.
Saudi state media said the agreement was accompanied by a separate Strategic Economic Partnership Document. The White House confirmed that the kingdom had pledged to invest $600 billion in the United States, including what officials described as the largest-ever defence sales package between the two allies—worth nearly $142 billion.
"I really believe we like each other a lot," Trump remarked during talks with Prince Mohammed, whom he called a friend. The two leaders also participated in the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, where the crown prince hosted a lunch attended by high-level U.S. business figures such as Elon Musk, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
Trump joked that the $600 billion pledge could grow to $1 trillion, echoing comments he made during his 2017 trip to Riyadh, and noted the investment would generate jobs in the United States.
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih opened the forum by highlighting the shift from oil dependency to innovation, particularly in frontier technologies. NEOM’s Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez said most of the $1 billion in tech-focused Saudi investment has gone to U.S. firms.
Despite its scale, the event notably did not include a stop in Israel, prompting speculation about changing regional priorities. Israeli officials have expressed concern, especially as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from Washington to accept a ceasefire and consider a two-state solution amid the ongoing Gaza war.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said efforts to expand the Abraham Accords were ongoing, though sources say progress with Saudi Arabia is unlikely under the current Israeli stance. Trump is also expected to offer Riyadh an arms package exceeding $100 billion, further cementing defence ties with the kingdom.
Separately, U.S. and Iranian officials met in Oman to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme, with Trump maintaining the possibility of military action if talks fail. Israeli operations against Hamas and Hezbollah, and the targeted killings of their leaders, have increased pressure on Iran, giving Trump added diplomatic leverage.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Britain’s plan to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which host a strategic U.K.-U.S. military base, has been put on indefinite hold after the Trump administration withdrew its support.
Talks between the United States and Iran opened in Islamabad on Saturday (11 April) as the two sides sought to turn a fragile temporary ceasefire into a lasting agreement, amid disputes over Lebanon and sanctions relief.
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, claims firmly rejected by the White House-backed Board of Peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
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Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-decade hold on power in the small but strategically significant East African nation.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
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