The White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump will undertake an official trip to three Gulf states: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, from May 13 to 16. White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated that the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss cooperation in various fields, particularly political, economic, and defense matters, as well as address key regional and international issues of mutual interest.
This trip marks President Trump’s first foreign visit since his return to the White House on January 20, following his victory in the presidential election for a new term. Notably, during his first term in May 2017, Trump also chose Saudi Arabia as his first destination, underscoring the strategic importance of U.S.-Saudi relations.
The visit comes at a time when the region faces numerous geopolitical challenges, including the war in Gaza, the crisis in Sudan, developments in Yemen, the Iranian nuclear dossier, and escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. These issues are expected to play a central role in the U.S. President’s agenda during the Gulf tour.
On April 1, the White House spokesperson had indicated that Trump would visit Saudi Arabia in May without specifying a date. The full itinerary, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, was later announced as part of renewed U.S. diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with traditional Gulf allies.
On April 10, Washington hosted a high-level meeting between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio. The discussions explored deepening cooperation on regional and international issues, particularly the Palestinian issue, the situation in Gaza, developments in Yemen and Sudan, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Both sides emphasized their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. and working together for regional stability. They also highlighted the importance of continued political, diplomatic, and military coordination. The U.S. Secretary of State thanked the Kingdom for its role in international mediation, particularly its efforts to bridge positions between Moscow and Kyiv and its support for dialogue rounds hosted by Riyadh in recent months.
In February and March of this year, the U.S. Secretary of State made two consecutive visits to Saudi Arabia, holding bilateral talks with Russian and Ukrainian delegations, highlighting the Kingdom’s growing role as an internationally accepted mediator and key partner in complex global issues.
As President Trump prepares for his regional visit, it is expected to include bilateral meetings with the leaders of the three countries and the signing of agreements in military cooperation, technology, and energy. This aligns with U.S. efforts to enhance energy security and global market stability.
The trip underscores the mutual strategic importance of the U.S. and the Gulf states amid ongoing international changes, necessitating intensified cooperation and alliances to address growing global challenges.
