Following Trump's inauguration, Saudi Arabia emerged as a key player in his foreign policy, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acting as a mediator in high-stakes negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. Trump's upcoming visit is expected to solidify agreements for significant Saudi investments in the U.S. economy, emphasizing a transactional approach to diplomacy. This relationship has evolved despite past controversies, including the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, demonstrating a focus on economic ties over moral implications.
Trump tapped the kingdom - whose de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a close ally - to play the role of friendly but neutral mediator as he tries to reset U.S. relations with Russia and gain access to Ukraine's mineral, oil and gas reserves.
On Tuesday, the president announced that he will travel to Saudi Arabia next month on the first foreign trip of his second term - a visit he said would include finalizing an agreement to have Riyadh invest upward of $1 trillion in the U.S. economy.
Both Trump and Mohammed have touted a more transactional style of diplomacy, relying less on principles or alliances and instead using multibillion-dollar trade and investment deals to cement relations with other nations.
I have a very good relationship with Mohammed and the King... I was going back now to create 'tremendous amounts of jobs' in the United States.
Collection
[
|
...
]