Trump to Meet Gulf Leaders in Riyadh During First Foreign Trip of Second Term
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with the leaders of six Gulf nations during an upcoming visit to Riyadh, according to a source familiar with Saudi government affairs who spoke with AFP on Sunday.
The trip, scheduled for May 13 to 16, will take Trump to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. It marks his first official overseas visit in his second term, aside from a brief appearance in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral.
The source revealed that Trump will convene with the heads of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman—in the Saudi capital. The purpose of the meeting is to deepen both political and economic ties between the U.S. and the Gulf states. The source requested anonymity, citing a lack of authorization to speak publicly.
In advance of the visit, the U.S. approved a $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its defense relationship with the kingdom. Trump has previously highlighted his administration’s success in securing lucrative commercial deals with Saudi Arabia, a key player in U.S. diplomatic efforts related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The visit also follows the start of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the original 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, has remained firm on sanctions and called for a worldwide embargo on Iranian oil and petrochemicals. He has expressed optimism about negotiating a new deal to ease international tensions and avert potential Israeli military action against Iran.
Another possible agenda item during Trump’s trip is a long-awaited normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, reminiscent of the Abraham Accords achieved during his first term. However, Saudi officials have reiterated that no such agreement will be considered until the ongoing conflict in Gaza is resolved.
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