Saudi Arabia is pulling out all the stops to impress President Donald Trump during his first overseas trip, aiming to solidify its position as a dominant global player and counter Iran’s influence in the region. The kingdom has arranged an action-packed two-day schedule for Trump, featuring a mix of international figures and high-profile events, including a performance by country singer Toby Keith for a male-only audience in Riyadh and meetings with figures like Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, despite his war crimes indictment by the International Criminal Court.
Trump’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia first sends a clear signal: the strained U.S.-Saudi relations under President Barack Obama are a th
ing of the past. The kingdom is eager for Trump to align U.S. interests with its own and has even launched a countdown clock on a special website dedicated to the visit, declaring it as the start of a new chapter in U.S.-Saudi cooperation.
The visit will feature the Arab-Islamic-U.S. summit, a high-profile event where Saudi Arabia plans to demonstrate its reg
ional influence by hosting more than 50 Arab and Muslim leaders. The summit aims to forge stronger partnerships in the fight against extremism, with Trump attending a banquet hosted by King Salman. Among the guests is Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who has been isolated by the U.S. for years. The visit underscores Saudi Arabia’s push for greater international engagement and economic reform through its Vision 2030 initiative.
Saudi Arabia Embraces Strong Diplomatic Ties with Trump Amid Strategic Goals
Saudi Arabia is thrilled to be the first stop on President Donald Trump’s overseas visit, viewing it as a major opportunity to re-establish a robust U.S.-Saudi diplomatic relationship and showcase its leadership in the Arab and Muslim world. According to Simon Henderson of The Washington Institute, Saudi Arabia is excited about hosting multiple overlapping summits in Riyadh, demonstrating its influence and commitment to regional stability.
The kingdom has long sought to be the center of the Islamic world, with Mecca and Medina hosting millions of Muslim pilgrims each year. Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, highlighted the importance of these holy sites in announcing Trump’s first visit to Saudi Arabia. However, the Saudi government’s management of these sacred places has faced criticism, especially after deadly accidents in 2015 that resulted in thousands of pilgrim deaths.
While the Saudi government emphasizes a theme of friendship in its relations with Washington, some prominent Saudis, such as writer Ziad al-Drees, argue that the visit is driven by strategic interests rather than personal affection. Al-Drees notes that the common goals of addressing terrorism and rebuilding U.S.-Saudi ties post-Obama are key to the summit’s success.
Notably, Saudi Arabia has excluded Iran and Syria from the summit, as it pursues a military alliance aimed at combating terrorism in the region. The kingdom also supports efforts to oust the Syrian government, which is backed by Iran and Russia. Saudi Arabia has praised Trump’s tough stance on Iran, contrasting it with former President Obama’s nuclear deal with Tehran, with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed asserting that Obama “wasted many significant opportunities” in Syria.
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