Scheduled to Visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE Over Four Days
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has embarked on a tour of the Middle East, arrived in Saudi Arabia on the morning of May 13 (local time), officially beginning his trip.
According to foreign media outlets including the Associated Press, President Trump landed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at around 9:50 a.m. local time. While President Trump visited Italy last month to attend the funeral mass for Pope Francis, this is his first pre-planned overseas trip for summit diplomacy since returning to the White House on January 20.
This tour is expected to serve as an opportunity for the Trump administration's second term to present its policy direction toward the Middle East, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, as well as heightened concerns over Iran's nuclear weapons development.
There is speculation that, rather than focusing solely on geopolitical issues, the trip may yield major agreements on U.S.-bound investment and economic cooperation, which could benefit the overall U.S. economy, including job creation. As a result, it is considered likely that economic agreements, such as those related to trade relations, will be reached.
In Saudi Arabia, President Trump is expected to discuss the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, an end to the war in Gaza, and oil price stabilization with Crown Prince Bin Salman. In addition, according to the Associated Press, Crown Prince Bin Salman is expected to host President Trump at a dinner with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states later in the day.
During his four-day Middle East tour, President Trump will visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following his stay in Saudi Arabia.
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