U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Riyadh next Tuesday. This marks his first official foreign trip since beginning his second term in office. The visit follows an unplanned stop in Rome, where Trump attended the funeral of Pope Francis. Saudi Arabia will once again serve as Trump’s first international destination. This mirrors his 2017 visit, which he described as “highly successful.” Trump’s visit to Riyadh is expected to underscore the deep economic and strategic ties between the two nations.
This year, Trump’s Gulf tour will also include stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, running from May 13 to 16. His visit coincides with significant developments in Saudi Arabia. It has undergone transformative changes since his first trip eight years ago. Back then, Saudi Arabia had just launched its Vision 2030 initiative. The initiative aims to diversify its economy away from oil dependence. Trump’s visit to Riyadh is set to highlight the Kingdom’s progress under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious reform agenda.
High-Level Deals Expected
Ahead of Trump’s arrival, expectations are mounting for major announcements. After meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday, Trump hinted at “major developments” that would be unveiled during his Gulf tour. Among the anticipated announcements is a preliminary agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who visited Saudi Arabia last month, said discussions were close to finalizing an agreement. This agreement will focus on civil nuclear energy and technological collaboration. Trump’s visit to Riyadh is likely to bring new agreements that could reshape regional energy dynamics.
Deepening Strategic and Economic Ties
Trump’s return to Riyadh underscores Saudi Arabia’s importance in U.S. foreign policy and economic strategy. His visit also aligns with the administration’s push to boost foreign investment in the United States. This will strengthen ties with key regional allies. Trump’s visit to Riyadh is expected to attract top American business leaders. It will reflect the Kingdom’s economic transformation.
Executives from Wall Street and Silicon Valley, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Palantir CEO Alex Karp, are set to attend the Saudi-US Investment Forum. The forum is scheduled to coincide with Trump’s arrival in the Saudi capital. High-profile figures from Citigroup, IBM, Qualcomm, Alphabet, and Franklin Templeton are also expected to participate. David Sacks, the White House’s top advisor on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, will be present as well.
Coinciding with the summit, the Trump administration announced plans to roll back the “AI Export Restriction Rule” imposed during President Joe Biden’s term. The rule had placed strict controls on the export of advanced AI chips, even to allied nations. Trump’s visit to Riyadh is expected to pave the way for new technological collaborations.
A Longstanding Economic Partnership
The economic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia remains robust and steadily growing. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $32.3 billion, up from $22.9 billion in 2020. According to the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the United States ranks as Saudi Arabia’s second-largest supplier and sixth-largest export destination. Trump’s visit to Riyadh aims to further strengthen these economic ties.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau reported that total U.S.-Saudi goods trade in 2024 stood at $25.9 billion. American exports were valued at $13.2 billion, while imports from Saudi Arabia reached $12.7 billion. This resulted in a trade surplus of $443.3 million. Key Saudi exports to the U.S. include crude oil, fertilizers, organic chemicals, and metal products. Meanwhile, American exports to Saudi Arabia span pharmaceuticals, chemicals, grains, plastics, and high-tech equipment, including aerospace and medical devices.
