US President Donald Trump announced that he would be visiting Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia soon. “It could be next month, maybe a little bit later,” he said while speaking about probable dates.
The announcement was made while signing executive orders in the Oval Office.
This would be Trump’s first foreign trip since taking office for the second time.
Why Trump chose these countries for his first trip?
The comment came after Axios reported that White House officials were planning Trump’s first trip to Saudi Arabia in mid-May as a signal of appreciation for planned investment by the Gulf country in US industry.
On Monday, Trump noted that he visited Saudi Arabia during his first term after a pledge of $450 billion in US investment. And recently, Riyadh pledged to invest nearly USD 1 trillion in US companies.
“I am going to Saudi Arabia. Normally you would go to the UK first. Last time I went to Saudi Arabia. They put up 450 billion dollars,” Trump said.
“I view it as jobs more than anything else, and now we’re close to a trillion dollars,” Trump said. “So it’s more than double the number that we did when I first came to office.”
Axios report said. senior US and Saudi officials recently discussed the potential trip, including during Ukraine war talks in Saudi Arabia. Initially, they proposed April 28 as the probable date for the visit but later they postponed
Why the trip matters?
Trump’s decision to go to Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip signals how close the relationship between the Trump administration and Gulf countries has become, especially when it comes to economic cooperation and investment, the Axios report also said.
Further the trip is significant as it comes at a time when Trump administration is pushing to restore the Gaza ceasefire and secure the release of more hostages.
The US and Israeli officials say plans for an Israel-Saudi normalisation deal are on hold. Saudi Arabia wants a clear timeline for a Palestinian state, but Israel refuses.
Is Russia-Ukraiane conflict on agenda?
Notably, Trump made no reference to Saudi Arabia’s role in mediating a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the conflict in Ukraine. Although he has previously suggested that the two may have discussions there, the US president has recently voiced his discontent.
Trump stated earlier Monday that he was still optimistic that Putin would support a ceasefire agreement in the end.
Saudi Arabia is actively assisting the United States in mediating a ceasefire in the three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
