Riyadh: US President Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, marking the start of his first major foreign trip of his second administration. The visit is part of a four-day tour to the Middle East, which will also include stops in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Trump was welcomed at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the president's arrival was met with ceremonial honors, including a purple carpet reception and a military escort by Saudi F-15 jets as Air Force One neared the capital. The meeting between Trump and the crown prince is expected to cover a range of critical issues, including Iran's nuclear activities, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and strategies to stabilize oil prices.
This visit continues Trump's precedent from his first term, where he chose Saudi Arabia as his first international destination, diverging from the traditional first visit to the United Kingdom by U.S. presidents. During a March press briefing, Trump highlighted the previous economic benefits of his visits, citing a substantial investment by Saudi Arabia in American companies and expressing anticipation for similar outcomes on this trip.