Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local sources: The Israeli force, which crossed into southern rural Damascus, has reached the town of Qatana, located just 10 kilometers from the Syrian capital
Local sources: An Israeli ground unit, comprising more than 15 military and armored vehicles, carried out an incursion into southern rural Damascus from the occupied Syrian Golan
Belgian court orders regional government to stop military exports to Israel, Belga reports
Latin Patriarchate in occupied al-Quds: The Holy Family Church in Gaza was subjected to Israeli shelling, resulting in injuries, including Father Gabriele Romanelli
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in France: Georges Abdallah’s lawyer has officially informed him of the court’s decision granting his release
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One was martyred in a raid that targeted the town of Kfour, Nabatieh District
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One was martyred in an Israeli drone strike that targeted a truck in the town of Naqoura
Defense Attorney: Lebanese activist George Ibrahim Abdallah will be released on July 25
Georges Abdallah's defense attorney: The decision to release Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah will be issued in a few minutes
The French judiciary decided to release Lebanese activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah after 41 years of detention

Trump to make first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia in May: Axios

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Axios
  • 31 Mar 2025 11:42
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

According to a White House official, discussions during the visit will center on foreign investments, strengthening ties with Gulf nations, and efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East.

Listen
  • x
  • AxiosPresident Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting in Riyadh, on May 20, 2017. (AP)

US President Donald Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May, marking his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, Axios reported, citing two US officials and a source familiar with his travel plans.

The news website suggested that Trump’s decision to choose Saudi Arabia as his first international destination underscores the strong ties between his administration and Gulf nations, particularly in economic cooperation and investment.

The trip is being planned as the Trump administration seeks to restore the ceasefire in Gaza and push for the release of more Israeli captives held by Hamas.

However, US and Israeli officials indicate that discussions on a potential normalization agreement between "Israel" and Saudi Arabia have been sidelined, largely due to Riyadh's demand for a definitive, time-bound path to Palestinian statehood—something the Israeli government refuses to accept, according to the report.

While the US pursues its wish to incorporate Saudi Arabia into the "Abraham Accords", Trump's controversial proposal to "take over" Gaza and rebuild the Palestinian enclave as the "Riviera of the Middle East" may have caused a setback to this end, The New York Times reported in February.

Saudi Arabia, along with several other Arab countries, swiftly rejected Trump's plan, and the kingdom reaffirmed its demand for a Palestinian state before any normalization with "Israel", citing it was a non-negotiable condition.

The statement was released just after Trump claimed Riyadh had no such condition as he received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House.

Trump's first foreign trip during his previous term in office was also to Saudi Arabia around the same time.

Related News

Arab, regional states reaffirm support for Syria sovereignty

George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on March 6, Trump confirmed his plans, saying, "I am going to Saudi Arabia. Normally you would go to the UK first. Last time I went to Saudi Arabia. They put up 450 billion dollars."

"This time I said I will go if you put up a trillion dollars to American companies. Meaning the purchase over four years of a trillion dollars. They agreed to do that. So I am gonna be going there," he indicated.

Sources told Axios that discussions about the trip have been ongoing between senior US and Saudi officials, including on the sidelines of talks about the Ukraine war held in Saudi Arabia. One proposed date for the visit was April 28, but it was postponed.

A US official and a source familiar with the matter confirmed to the news website that the trip is now planned for mid-May.

A Trump administration official stated that arrangements for the visit are still in progress.

"An opportunity for international travel for the President is something that is being looked at. We don't yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," a White House official also mentioned.

According to the official, discussions during the visit will center on foreign investments, strengthening ties with Gulf nations, and efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East.

It remains uncertain whether Trump will hold a regional summit with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, as he did in May 2017, or whether he will visit other countries in the region afterward, Axios noted.

Read more: Saudi Arabia aims for $600 bln in US investment, trade over four years

  • United States
  • Riyadh
  • US
  • Donald Trump
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed
Politics

George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed

A still from the video released by al-Qassam Brigades, which reads, "Captivity is better than death", on July 17, 2025 (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video warning Israelis: Captivity better than death

Georges Abdallah attends his trial in Lyon on July 3, 1986 (Social Media)
Politics

'A symbol for every prisoner': Hezbollah hails Georges Abdallah

Plume of smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Qabrikha, July 17, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

'Israel' kills mother, father, injures 10-year-old daughter in Lebanon

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS