President Trump plans to visit Saudi Arabia to negotiate a significant investment deal from the kingdom. The trip primarily focuses on business, with Trump indicating a desire for Saudi Arabia to commit $1 trillion in purchases over four years. This visit continues Trump’s established ties with Saudi Arabia, initially forged during his presidency and aims to enhance diplomatic relations involving Israel.

On a Thursday press briefing, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to visit Saudi Arabia, aiming to finalize a substantial investment deal from the kingdom. He highlighted that the trip would focus primarily on business dealings rather than diplomatic discussions, notably mentioning potential interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump articulated, “I’m going to Saudi Arabia,” though he refrained from specifying a date for this visit.

He emphasized the investment commitment he seeks from Saudi Arabia, stating, “I said, I’ll go if you pay a trillion dollars to American companies, (spreading) the purchase over a four-year period… They’ve agreed to do that, so I’m going to be going there.” This financial agreement aligns with his efforts throughout his presidency to strengthen U.S.-Saudi relations.

Trump’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has been prominently maintained since his initial foreign trip to the country in 2017. He acknowledged that the decision to prioritize Saudi Arabia over Britain was influenced by a promise of purchasing $450 billion worth of U.S. products. Furthermore, the Trump Organization had plans to establish a Trump Tower in Jeddah, reflecting ongoing business ties.

In past endeavors, Trump notably protected Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid international scrutiny over the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, citing the importance of Saudi arms purchases. President Joe Biden had initially sought to isolate the crown prince due to human rights concerns but later sought Saudi cooperation, particularly in the context of a draft defense agreement and the normalization of relations with Israel.

The Trump administration aims to accelerate discussions regarding Saudi Arabia’s potential normalization with Israel, a significant diplomatic development considering the kingdom’s role as the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites.

In summary, President Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia aims to solidify a major investment deal, reflecting his ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S.-Saudi business relations. Despite past controversies regarding human rights, both the Trump and Biden administrations have sought engagement with the kingdom for strategic purposes, such as the normalization with Israel.

Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com

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