Former U.S. President Donald Trump has kickstarted his return to global diplomacy with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, announcing a massive $142 billion arms deal and revealing plans to lift long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria. The bold moves mark the opening chapter of Trump’s second-term foreign policy agenda, centered on economic partnerships and Middle East stabilization.
Trump’s arrival in Riyadh was met with grandeur—a ceremonial welcome featuring a lavender carpet, Arabian horses, and a purple tie to match. The color change, symbolic of Saudi generosity and native wildflowers, set the tone for a visit filled with both pageantry and political ambition.
Addressing an elite audience at an investment forum, Trump declared Saudi Arabia “America’s strongest partner,” praising the kingdom’s role in boosting U.S. economic interests. He highlighted the $142 billion arms deal as just the beginning of what could grow into a $1 trillion investment portfolio led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
But the real shocker came when Trump pledged to end U.S. sanctions on Syria, citing a new transitional government and a “chance at greatness” for the war-torn nation. The surprise announcement was reportedly influenced by Mohammed bin Salman and received support from former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford. “The country is in ruins,” Ford said. “Reconstruction can only happen with international funding—and lifting sanctions makes that possible.”
The Syrian government, now led by transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa, welcomed the decision as a “new beginning” for rebuilding efforts after more than a decade of civil war. Trump is expected to meet al-Sharaa during his stay in Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s Riyadh trip isn’t just about politics—it’s a power move in business diplomacy. Alongside Trump were top U.S. tech and investment figures including Tesla’s Elon Musk, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. The group is helping Saudi Arabia ramp up its artificial intelligence capabilities, as the kingdom diversifies its economy beyond oil.
Huang revealed that Nvidia will supply more than 18,000 advanced AI chips to Saudi firm Humain—a significant step in transforming Saudi tech infrastructure.
Trump’s broader message during the trip emphasized commerce over conflict. “It’s through business and shared prosperity that we bring peace to the region,” he said, drawing a contrast to the approach taken by his predecessor, Joe Biden, whose 2022 visit was more subdued.
On the issue of Gaza, Trump offered limited commentary, saying only that people in the region deserve a “better future” and criticized Hamas for holding back peace through violent actions. While he expressed hope for Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stood firm: no deal until the Gaza war ends and a clear path to Palestinian statehood emerges.
After Saudi Arabia, Trump is set to visit Qatar and the UAE. The UAE has already committed to investing $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade—another sign of how Trump is using economic ties to reinforce diplomatic ones.
As Trump re-establishes himself on the world stage, one thing is clear: he’s not playing small. From multi-billion-dollar deals to diplomatic U-turns, his Gulf tour is reshaping alliances—and the headlines.
