Trump leans on Saudi Arabia to boost foreign policy and economic goals

Trump leans on Saudi Arabia to boost foreign policy and economic goals

In his second term, US President Donald Trump is wagering big on Saudi Arabia. From facilitating peace negotiations on Ukraine to making preparations for a $1 trillion investment agreement and a high-profile visit in May, Riyadh is becoming a keystone in the administration's international strategy, the Washington Post reported.

Saudi Arabia at the centre of Trump's foreign reset

Since re-entering the White House, Trump has cast Saudi Arabia not only as a regional ally, but as a neutral mediator with global ambitions. The kingdom hosted US-Russian talks, assisted with prisoner swaps, and was charged with brokering talks on the future of Ukraine. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—Trump's long-time defender and embracer—is once again at the centre of Trump's foreign policy dreams.

The president's first trip abroad in the term, to Riyadh, is to seal a comprehensive economic deal that would have Saudi Arabia invest more than $1 trillion into the US economy. Trump claims that the deal will make "tremendous amounts of jobs" and increase economic interdependence between both countries.

A transactional alliance based on mutual interests

The Trump-MBS relationship is an extension of a partnership cemented during Trump's first term—one that has emphasized business transactions and strategic objectives at the expense of human rights or normal diplomatic niceties. Trump protected the crown prince following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and rolled out the red carpet for a $2 billion Saudi fund investment in Jared Kushner's equity firm.

Today, though, Saudi Arabia's long history of relations with both the West and nations like Russia and Iran have placed it particularly well-placed to play a go-between role. Strategically located also, with the second-largest proven reserves of oil in the world and huge investment in clean energy, sports, and mega-cities, the kingdom is very much a modern Middle East, an emerging Riyadh

Historic Arab powers such as Egypt, Syria, and Iraq have declined, allowing Saudi Arabia to exercise regional influence. The Vision 2030 plan of Crown Prince Mohammed, which seeks to diversify the Saudi economy and transform its society, has made the kingdom a central geopolitical player and entry point for Western investment in the Gulf.

Trump's foreign policy, more than ever before, is about riding that ambition. His style combines diplomacy with high-risk deals and focuses on regional stability through economic expansion.

Challenges ahead

Saudi Arabia, even as it gains more influence, continues to be profoundly authoritarian. Political opponents continue to be jailed, and executions totalled a record in 2023. Critics say that Trump's alliance with the kingdom encourages repression and provides incentives for power over principle.

Gaza, Yemen, and Syria conflicts remain a threat to regional security. Trump's threats to attack Iran for its nuclear program also risk involving the US and its allies in wider conflict. Experts caution that if these crises widen, Saudi Arabia might find itself in a weak position.

Nevertheless, with Washington again looking to Riyadh to spearhead diplomatic initiatives and economic interaction, the May visit will be a watershed moment in Trump's foreign policy re-launch—sealing Saudi Arabia as the linchpin of his global agenda.