During President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh on May 11, 2025, he aims to secure a $1 trillion investment deal focusing on economic partnerships, including arms deals, AI collaborations, and mega-projects. However, the ongoing Gaza conflict has stalled efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman insists on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a credible path to Palestinian statehood as prerequisites for resuming normalization talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reluctance to cease hostilities and accept a Palestinian state hinders progress. While normalization was a key agenda item in Trump’s first term, it has now been sidelined in favor of economic initiatives. Trump’s visit also serves to reassert U.S. influence in a region increasingly aligned with China. Discussions include revisiting a scaled-back defense pact and a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Source: Reuters