Trump touts $142bn arms deal on Saudi go to, lifts sanctions on Syria

[ad_1] Sarah Smith BBC Information, reporting from Riyadh

Bernd Debusmann Jr BBC Information, Washington DC

Timelapse: Dozens of Saudi Arabian officers queue to satisfy Trump

US President Donald Trump has mentioned the US has "no stronger accomplice" than Saudi Arabia throughout his first main overseas journey - a whirlwind go to of Gulf nations primarily centered on shoring up funding.

Day one of many tour noticed the 2 sides announce a $142bn (£107bn) arms deal, in addition to different investments that Saudi Arabia's crown prince mentioned may finally be value $1tn.

Trump additionally made Saudi Arabia the primary overseas cease throughout his first time period, in 2017. The remainder of his journey will embrace stops in Qatar and the UAE.

Talking for almost an hour in Riyadh, Trump additionally introduced that the US could be lifting sanctions on Syria in an effort to give the nation "an opportunity at greatness".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/175b/live/26cacbf0-3035-11f0-bf6c-ed45299ac4b9.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman photographed with other officials in Riyadh" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Pictures US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman photographed with different officers in Riyadh

Trump's arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was met with a grand reception, together with a lavish lavender-coloured carpet rolled out to greet him. He had even chosen a purple tie to match it.

Riyadh swapped purple carpets for lavender in 2021, saying that it was a logo of the dominion's desert wildflowers and generosity.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Trump on the tarmac and offered an honour guard of Arabian horses to accompany his presidential limo.

In a speech later, Trump mentioned: "I like him quite a bit."

The pomp and ceremony was a drastic change from the muted reception for former US President Joe Biden, who declared Saudi Arabia a "pariah" state after the homicide of a dissident journalist, earlier than he travelled to the oil-rich kingdom to hunt their assist in reducing petrol costs, fist-bumping the crown prince.

Trump flew to the Gulf to strike monetary offers and argued in his speech that it's via this type of commerce and financial growth that the Center East would transcend violence and division.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ff4c/live/a98ac810-3035-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Sam Altman stands next to other officals in a building in Riyahd " class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Pictures OpenAI CEO Sam Altman accompanied Donald Trump and different enterprise leaders through the president's journey to Riyahd

In his remarks at an funding discussion board, Trump lauded the US-Saudi relationship as "extra highly effective than ever earlier than".

"From the second we began we have seen wealth that has poured - and is pouring - into America," he mentioned.

Trump is making an attempt to woo overseas traders to the US to spice up the American financial system, a key focus of his administration within the almost 4 months of his second time period.

"I like him an excessive amount of," Trump mentioned of Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de-facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. "That is why we give a lot."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e019/live/57215e90-3035-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Elon Musk is standing with other officials overlooking a 3D model" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Pictures Tesla CEO Elon Musk is one of some company leaders that joined Donald Trump on his journey to Riyahd

Underscoring his dedication to deal-making, Trump was joined by billionaire ally Elon Musk and different enterprise leaders at a lavish lunch.

Throughout his tackle, Trump mentioned it was his "dream" to have Saudi Arabia be part of the Abraham Accords, a deal brokered in his first administration that noticed relations between Israel and a few Gulf nations normalised for the primary time.

However his good good friend, Mohammed bin Salman, has made it clear that won't occur till there's a everlasting finish to the struggle in Gaza and a transparent path to Palestinian statehood.

There's a restrict to what this friendship can ship.

Trump solely briefly addressed the continued battle between Israel and Hamas.

He informed these in attendance that folks in Gaza deserved a "higher future", which had been held again by Hamas selecting "to kidnap, torture and goal" for "political ends" - a reference to the 7 October 2023 assault on Israel.

Trump additionally introduced he was lifting sanctions on Syria to enhance the nation's new authorities, a transfer he prompt was requested by Mohammed bin Salman.

"Oh, what I do for the crown prince," the US chief mentioned.

American sanctions on Syria had been in place for over a decade, meant to use stress and financial ache in opposition to the dictatorship of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December.

Syria has since elected a brand new transitional president, creating a gap for renewed US diplomacy efforts.

Trump was anticipated to satisfy Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudia Arabia.

From Saudi Arabia, Trump will head to each Qatar and the UAE, which has already dedicated to investing $1.4tn within the US over the subsequent decade.