- MBS passes congratulations from Father King Salman, during call with Trump.
- Trump says he would consider making KSA his first destination for a foreign visit.
- The Republican favored close ties with Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia during his first term.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told President Donald Trump that the kingdom wants to put $600 billion into expanded investment and trade with the United States over the next four years, Saudi Arabia’s state news agency said Thursday. the Saudi state.
In a phone call between the two leaders, the crown prince said the Trump administration’s expected reforms could create “unprecedented economic prosperity,” the state news agency reported.
The report says Saudi Arabia wants its investments to capitalize on these conditions. He did not detail the source of the $600 billion, whether it was public or private spending, or how the money would be deployed.
The investment “could increase further if additional opportunities arise,” the agency quoted Bin Salman as telling Trump.
Trump favored close ties with Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia, during his first term. The country invested $2 billion in a company formed by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former aide, after Trump left office.
Trump said following his inauguration Monday that he would consider making Saudi Arabia his first destination for a foreign visit if Riyadh agreed to buy $500 billion in American goods, similar to what he has done during his first term.
“I did it with Saudi Arabia last time because they agreed to buy $450 billion of our product. I said I would do it but you have to buy an American product, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump said, referring to his 2017 visit to the Gulf Kingdom.
During his first administration, Trump actively courted Saudi Arabia, long an important energy and security partner for Washington.
His first foreign visit in 2017 was to the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he moved to an elaborate welcome involving a sword dance and a flap of Air Force jets.
Riyadh and Trump’s team nevertheless sought to increase ties after leaving the White House, particularly through investments and construction deals for his private Trump Organization conglomerate.
