President Donald Trump kicked off his first major international trip of his second term in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he signed transformative defense and economic agreements with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The deals, valued at $600 billion, include a record-breaking $142 billion defense partnership, signaling a deepening of U.S.-Saudi relations. Trump, joined by top U.S. tech CEOs like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and AMD’s Lisa Su, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to invest in American AI infrastructure, crucial for the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify beyond oil.
A key announcement included Nvidia’s partnership with Saudi startup Humain to build “AI factories” with 500 megawatts of capacity, starting with 18,000 GB300 Grace Blackwell chips.
These agreements highlight America's technological strength as a diplomatic tool, particularly following the reversal of Biden-era AI chip export restrictions by the Trump administration, which now allows sales to Middle Eastern countries.
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Syrian Diplomatic Breakthrough
In a surprising move, Trump met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former jihadist who led the ouster of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024. The Riyadh meeting, attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and joined remotely by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was hailed as “historic” by Syria’s foreign ministry.
Trump signaled a major U.S. policy shift by announcing plans to lift sanctions on Syria, aiming to support its reconstruction and counterterrorism efforts against groups like ISIS. The discussions also explored normalizing Syrian-Israeli ties through the Abraham Accords, a bold step toward regional stability.
Real-time updates indicate Syria is preparing for follow-up talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Syrian officials, focusing on economic recovery and security cooperation.
Did You Know?
The $142 billion U.S.-Saudi defense deal is the largest single defense agreement in U.S. history, surpassing previous records set during the Obama administration’s $115 billion arms package to Saudi Arabia in 2016.
Qatar Visit Raises Eyebrows
Trump is now en route to Doha, Qatar, following a lavish Saudi send-off featuring a 21-gun salute and a motorcade flanked by Arabian horses. His decision to accept a Qatari plane for use as Air Force One has sparked legal, ethical, and security debates, with critics questioning potential conflicts of interest.
In Doha, Trump is expected to engage with Qatari leaders on energy investments and regional security, building on the Gulf Cooperation Council discussions in Riyadh, where he criticized former President Joe Biden and reiterated claims of a “rigged” 2020 election.
The Qatar visit is poised to further Trump’s agenda of strengthening Gulf alliances, though real-time sentiment on social platforms suggests mixed reactions, with some praising his deal-making and others wary of his unconventional diplomacy.
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Tech and Vision 2030: A Post-Oil Future
The presence of U.S. tech giants in Riyadh underscored the Middle East’s pivot toward a tech-driven economy. Saudi Arabia’s “giga-projects” aim to modernize the kingdom, with AI infrastructure as a cornerstone.
AMD’s $10 billion deal and Qualcomm’s agreement with Humain to build advanced AI data centers highlight the region’s ambition to lead in artificial intelligence.
Real-time data indicates Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is accelerating investments in tech startups, aiming to position the kingdom as a global AI hub by 2030. Trump’s emphasis on U.S. tech offerings aligns with his “America First” policy, leveraging economic partnerships to bolster diplomatic influence.
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