Donald Trump: US Approves $3.5bn Missile Sale to Saudi Arabia Ahead of Visit

US President Donald Trump is set to meet with the leaders of six Gulf nations during his upcoming visit to Riyadh later this month, a source close to the Saudi government confirmed to AFP on Sunday. This trip, scheduled from May 13 to 16, will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, marking Trump’s first foreign visit of his second term—aside from a brief trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

According to the source, Donald Trump will meet with the heads of state from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh, a political and economic alliance that includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. The aim of the meeting, the source added, is to strengthen political and economic cooperation between the United States and these key Gulf allies. The source requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The trip is seen as an opportunity to reinforce ties between the US and the Gulf nations, which have been central to American strategy in the Middle East. This visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Iran, which lies just across the Gulf from the GCC countries. Trump’s administration has been vocal in its opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the trip is likely to focus on this issue, along with other regional concerns.

Ahead of the visit, the United States took a significant step by approving a $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia on Friday. This sale is part of the broader US-Saudi relationship, which has long been marked by significant military and economic exchanges. Trump has often highlighted his administration’s ability to secure lucrative commercial deals with Saudi Arabia, and this missile deal further underscores the strategic ties between the two nations. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has played a pivotal role as a mediator in US diplomacy, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Donald Trump has expressed hope that his administration can broker a new agreement with Iran.

The visit to Riyadh comes on the heels of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump, who withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term, has warned Iran that he will continue to enforce sanctions and has called for a global boycott of Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These sanctions have been a central element of US policy in the region, aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its influence in the Middle East. Trump has expressed hope that his administration  broker a new agreement with Iran, one that would address ongoing concerns about the nuclear program and reduce the risk of military conflict, particularly involving Israel.

The possibility of a US-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel is also a key topic of speculation. During his first term, Trump facilitated the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, in what became known as the Abraham Accords. There is now increasing talk of a similar deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which could potentially reshape the dynamics of the Middle East.

However, Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it would not consider any normalization agreement with Israel without a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This position is consistent with Riyadh’s long-standing support for Palestinian statehood and its insistence that a comprehensive peace agreement must address Palestinian aspirations before any further normalization of relations with Israel is possible. The issue of Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a significant point of contention in any potential peace deals in the region.

The Trump administration is also expected to address broader regional security concerns during the visit. The Gulf nations, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been key partners in the US-led coalition against various threats, including terrorism and Iran’s regional influence. Trump’s trip is likely to include discussions on military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and regional stability, with a particular focus on ensuring that the Gulf nations remain aligned with US strategic objectives in the region.

The timing of Trump’s visit is also notable given the recent escalation of tensions in the region, including rising threats from Iran and continued instability in Yemen. As the US and its allies seek to manage these challenges, Trump’s trip to Riyadh offers a chance to reaffirm the importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council in American foreign policy and to chart a path forward in a region that remains a focal point of global geopolitics.