Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia to focus on strategic partnerships with Gulf countries

US President Donald Trump will meet with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders during his mid-May visit to Saudi Arabia, highlighting the strengthening economic and strategic relations between the US and Gulf nations.

Scheduled for May 14, the summit will provide Trump an opportunity to present his vision for US involvement in the Middle East and lay out his policy priorities in the region, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to invite leaders from all six GCC countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. Trump will arrive in Riyadh on May 13 for preliminary bilateral discussions ahead of the summit.

While no other Arab leaders have been invited to the summit at this time, officials indicated that the guest list could change as planning continues. Following the summit, Trump is expected to visit Qatar for talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, before traveling to Abu Dhabi on May 15 to meet with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The White House has not yet released formal details about the visit, and the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment.

However, US and regional officials confirmed that the trip will focus on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of investment, defense, and technology, including artificial intelligence. The State Department has already approved a potential $3.5 billion sale of medium-range air-to-air missiles and related equipment to Saudi Arabia. The summit in Riyadh will be the central regional focus of Trump’s trip, with no new diplomatic initiatives expected to be announced. 

Additionally, Trump has no plans to visit Israel during this trip, with US and Israeli officials citing a lack of significant developments on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Trump’s visit coincides with ongoing negotiations in the US over a potential nuclear deal with Iran, a topic that has drawn cautious support from key Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who have encouraged Washington to continue pursuing diplomatic efforts. 

This marks Trump’s second high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia; his first, in 2017, included a historic summit in Riyadh with leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world. By contrast, President Joe Biden’s 2022 visit included a wider summit with leaders from the GCC, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt.

By Naila Huseynova