President Trump began his four-day visit to the Middle East with his first stop in Saudi Arabia, where he and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a major economic agreement aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
The deal includes cooperation in energy development, efforts to modernize the Saudi military, judicial coordination between the U.S. Justice Department and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice and judiciary, expanded customs collaboration, and cultural partnerships involving the Smithsonian Institution and Saudi organizations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was also on the trip, where he accepted a letter of intent between the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the modernization and development of the capabilities of the Saudi armed forces.
Trump received an enthusiastic reception upon arrival in Riyadh, with Crown Prince Mohammed personally greeting him as he stepped off Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport. The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of key issues, including curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, efforts to end the war in Gaza, and strategies to stabilize global oil prices.
