In a recent phone call, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed intentions to increase investments and trade with the United States by $600 billion over the next four years. This move comes as a congratulatory gesture to Donald Trump on his return to the White House. The Crown Prince also conveyed well wishes from King Salman during the call.
The White House confirmed that this conversation marked Trump’s first call with a foreign leader since his reinstatement. The discussion focused on promoting stability in the Middle East, enhancing regional security, and combating terrorism. Additionally, they explored Saudi Arabia’s economic aspirations over the next four years, aiming to boost mutual prosperity through trade opportunities.
During his previous term, Trump fostered a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, culminating in his first foreign visit to the country in 2017. There are expectations that the new administration will work towards normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, following similar initiatives under the Biden administration and the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in potential US defense agreements and support for its civil nuclear program in exchange for recognizing Israel. Amidst discussions about regional affairs and the threats posed by Iran, the US-Saudi economic partnership and growth opportunities in various sectors, including AI, were also on the agenda during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call with the Crown Prince.
Despite some tensions in the past, efforts to strengthen US-Saudi relations, especially through economic collaborations and infrastructure projects, have been ongoing. Notably, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, received a substantial Saudi investment in his private equity firm, highlighting the depth of economic engagements between the two countries.