For the second time, U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen Saudi Arabia as the first country to visit during his term. According to the White House, the visit resulted in deals worth a total of $600 billion between Saudi Arabia and various U.S. government and private entities. Among these is what has been described as “the largest arms deal in history.” During the trip, Trump also announced the complete lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria.
However, The New York Times reported that the full details of these agreements remain unclear, and many of the deals were already in progress before the visit. Based on reports from The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters, here is a summary of the most notable events and deals from the visit.
The Biggest Deal: Arms Sales
The largest deal of the visit involves arms sales. Over a dozen American defense manufacturers have signed agreements to provide Saudi Arabia with approximately $142 billion worth of advanced military equipment and services. The deal also includes training and other support for the Saudi military. The White House has dubbed it “the largest arms deal in history.”
Major Tech and Infrastructure Investments
Saudi company Datavault has pledged $20 billion in investments into U.S.-based AI data centers and energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, U.S. tech giants like Google, Oracle, Salesforce, and Uber have committed to investing a combined $80 billion in joint U.S.-Saudi technology projects. However, the White House has not clarified how this investment will be distributed.
NVIDIA has signed a deal to supply advanced AI chips to Saudi AI firm Humane, starting with the delivery of 18,000 Blackwell GPU chips. Another U.S. company, AMD, will provide $10 billion worth of AI hardware to Humane as well.
The White House statement also highlighted the participation of U.S. companies in several Saudi infrastructure projects, including King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, and the Qiddiya entertainment city. These projects are expected to generate over $2 billion in business for American firms. However, The New York Times noted that many of these partnerships had been established prior to Trump’s visit.
Space and Conservation Collaborations
A Saudi satellite is set to be launched aboard NASA’s Artemis Tour test flight. Additionally, the Smithsonian National Zoo has signed a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Al-Ula to conserve the endangered Arabian leopard and create an exhibition in Washington, D.C.
Agreements in Justice, Energy, and Health
Saudi authorities signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice. Another MoU was signed regarding energy and mineral resources. The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation in space exploration and infectious disease research.
Despite the White House’s claims, The New York Times pointed out that even when adding up all the deals, the total does not reach the claimed $600 billion. White House officials stated that many more agreements are in place and will be announced later.
Meanwhile, during Trump’s visit, the U.S. administration stated that a total of 145 agreements were signed at the Saudi Investment Forum, collectively valued at over $300 billion.
Political Bombshell: Lifting Sanctions on Syria
One of the most significant political announcements of the visit was the complete lifting of all U.S. sanctions on Syria. President Trump also declared support for the new Syrian administration led by former al-Qaeda fighter Ahmed al-Sharar, and announced plans to normalize relations with Damascus.
Trump held a separate meeting with al-Sharar, during which he urged the Syrian president to “drive out Palestinian terrorists,” sign the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel, and seize former ISIS strongholds.
On Israel and Palestine
Trump said that normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel remains a “dream,” but that he would not pressure Saudi Arabia to pursue it. Al Jazeera, citing analysts, noted that the Biden administration had pushed Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel. However, Trump’s visit made it clear that such normalization now seems unlikely.
Since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has consistently stated that Saudi Arabia will not normalize ties with Israel unless a sovereign Palestinian state is established.
Remarks on Iran
In a speech during the visit, Trump criticized Iran, calling it the “greatest threat to stability and prosperity in the Middle East.” He pledged that Iran would “never be allowed” to develop nuclear weapons. Despite strong opposition from Israel, Trump’s administration is currently engaged in nuclear deal negotiations with Iran. These talks are believed to be a key factor behind the recent peace agreement with Yemen’s Houthis.
Trump also hinted at normalizing relations with Iran through the nuclear deal, stating:
“I don’t believe anyone has to be an enemy forever.”