Posted originally on CTH on May 13, 2025 | Sundance

Saudi Arabia is the first of three stops President Donald Trump will make on his four-day tour. He’ll also visit the lavish wealthy nations of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In all three countries Trump will aim to announce economic deals – with hopes that progress can be made on some complicated geopolitical issues as well. First, Trump will spend the day today in various engagements with Mohammed Bin Salman.

A Saudi official close to the defense ministry said Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defense systems worth billions of dollars. ‘We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump’s term,’ the official told AFP.

The long-term goal for the United States is to have Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords – one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of Trump’s first administration.

Traveling with President Trump are White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Elon Musk.