Trump to Visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE on May 13-16, White House Says

US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Paul Atkins as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on 22 April 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Paul Atkins as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on 22 April 2025. (EPA)
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Trump to Visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE on May 13-16, White House Says

US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Paul Atkins as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on 22 April 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Paul Atkins as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on 22 April 2025. (EPA)

President Donald Trump's upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will take place May 13-16, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday.

Trump would be traveling to the Middle East at a time of ongoing tensions with Iran, the Houthis in Yemen and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The Middle East would have been Trump’s first foreign destination since returning to the White House, but he will be heading to the Vatican to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia was the destination of Trump’s first foreign visit during his first term as president, underscoring the importance his administration places on the Kingdom’s regional and international role.

Trump had previously described his ties with the Middle East as “good”. He has constantly hailed the trade relations between the US and Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom’s role in establishing peace and stability in the region.

He has praised it for hosting American diplomatic efforts and facilitating ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump has underlined the size of Saudi investments in Amercian companies that amount to nearly $1 billion dollars and has boasted of his strong friendship with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Analysts have said Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will be very significant and will witness the signing of several trade and military agreements.

The visit will also highlight Qatar’s role as a mediator in the Gaza war, while the US views the UAE as a strategic partner.



Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Tuesday on regional and international developments.

The State Department said they discussed the developments in Yemen and the pressing need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.

Rubio welcomed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States in November.

The visit, he said, “underscored the strength of the Saudi-US partnership.”


Saudi Arabia, Iran, China Keen to Expand Economic, Political Cooperation

Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Saudi Arabia, Iran, China Keen to Expand Economic, Political Cooperation

Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China said on Tuesday they look forward to expanding economic and political cooperation, as well as in other fields. They also underlined the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation to bolster security, stability, peace and economic prosperity.

The third meeting of the tripartite Saudi-Chinese-Iranian committee met in Tehran on Tuesday. It was chaired by Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, with the participation of Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They condemned Israel’s attacks against Iran and the violation of its sovereignty.

Tehran expressed its appreciation for Riyadh and Beijing’s clear stances against the assaults.

Saudi Arabia and Iran stressed their commitment to implementing all articles of the 2023 Beijing agreement, saying they seek to bolster good neighborliness between them in line with the United Nations Charter, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Charter and international law.

They are committed to respecting each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security, they added.

Saudi Arabia and Iran welcomed China’s constant positive role and the importance of its support in implementing the Beijing agreement. China, for its part, expressed its readiness to maintain its support and encourage steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to develop their relations in various fields.

On regional affairs, the three countries reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen in line with international principles and under UN sponsorship.

Elkhereiji met separately with Takht-Ravanchi and Deyu on the sidelines of the meeting in Tehran. They discussed bilateral ties between their countries and means to develop them in various sectors.


Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from Indonesian President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from Indonesian President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received a phone call Tuesday from President Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to SPA, the two leaders reviewed relations and discussed ways to support areas of cooperation between the two countries.