US President Donald Trump is scheduled to embark on a trip to the Middle East next month, a three-nation tour as confirmed by his press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.
This trip marks Trump’s second international visit since he resumed the presidency, following his upcoming attendance at Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican on Saturday.
According to Leavitt, Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13 to May 16, although she did not provide additional details.
Earlier this month, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia engaged in discussions in Washington to prepare for Trump’s visit, reminiscent of his inaugural trip during his first term in 2017 when he first arrived in the oil-rich kingdom.
In January, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman committed to invest $600 billion in trade and investments with the United States.
The announcement of the trip coincides with ongoing nuclear negotiations between the White House and Iran, with military action being threatened should these talks not result in an agreement.
In 2018, Trump exited a significant nuclear agreement that was established three years prior, which had lifted certain sanctions on Iran in exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump mentioned having a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting their shared perspectives on trade and Iran.
In March, Trump indicated that the purpose of his visit to Saudi Arabia would be to finalize a deal involving investments exceeding $1 trillion in the US economy, which would include military equipment purchases.
He also suggested that comparable agreements could be reached in Qatar and the UAE, stating, “Tremendous jobs will be created in those two or three days,” although he did not disclose specific details regarding the agreements.
Other potential topics for discussion during the trip could include the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza, according to one source.