US President Donald Trump received a grand welcome as he began his four-day Mideast trip on Tuesday by paying a visit to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders are expected to discuss US efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more.
Prince Mohammed warmly greeted Trump as he stepped off Air Force One and kicked off his Middle East tour.
Trump's trip to Middle East this week also includes his visit to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump In Saudi Arabia| Itinerary
President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were retreated to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport, where Trump and his aides were served traditional Arabic coffee by waiting attendants wearing ceremonial gun-belts.
The pomp began before Trump even landed.
Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom's capital.
Trump and Prince Mohammed were scheduled to appear at a lunch at the Royal Court.
Several major business executives were invited to the event, including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
Later, the crown prince will fete Trump with a formal dinner. Trump is also slated to take part Tuesday in a U.S.-Saudi investment conference.
US - Saudi Arabia Ties
Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said was quoted by Associated Press, saying, "When Saudis and Americans join forces, very good things happen — more often than not, great things happen."
According to AP, Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) nations have already helped their cause with Trump early in his second term by stepping up oil production.
Trump looked at this cheap energy as a key component to lowering costs and stemming inflation for Americans. The president has also made the case that lower oil prices will hasten an end to Russia's war on Ukraine.
But Saudi Arabia's economy remains heavily dependent on oil, and the kingdom needs a fiscal break-even oil price of $96 to $98 a barrel to balance its budget, reported AP.
Saudi Arabia, leading member of OPEC, will have to keep production elevated.
The price of a barrel of Brent crude closed Monday at $64.77.
Trump picked the kingdom for his first stop because it has pledged to make big investments in the US, but Trump ended up traveling to Italy last month for Pope Francis' funeral. Riyadh was the first overseas stop of his first term.
Trump is expected to announce deals with the three wealthy countries (SA, Qatar, UAE) that will touch on artificial intelligence, expanding energy cooperation and perhaps new arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The administration earlier this month announced initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia's fighter jets.
But Trump arrived in the Mideast at a moment when his top regional allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, are far from neatly aligned with his approach.
Ahead of the trip, Trump announced that the U.S. was halting a nearly two-month US airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthis, saying the Iran-backed rebels have pledged to stop attacking ships along a vital global trade route.
The administration didn't notify Israel — which the Houthis continue to target — of the agreement before Trump publicly announced it.
(With AP inputs)
