Trump begins Middle East tour with warm welcome in Riyadh
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US President Donald Trump landed in Riyadh on Tuesday, kicking off a high-stakes Middle East tour focused on diplomacy, business and regional security. He was greeted with full honours by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at King Khalid International Airport.
The two leaders met inside a grand hall at the airport, where they were served traditional Arabic coffee, marking the ceremonial start of Trump's second-term Middle East outreach. Air Force One had received a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 escort as it approached the kingdom.
Trump’s itinerary includes formal talks, a royal luncheon and dinner hosted by the crown prince, and participation in a US-Saudi investment forum later today. The tour will also take him to Qatar and the UAE, and may include a stop in Istanbul if Ukraine-Russia talks progress.
Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza looms large over the trip. Speaking before departure, Trump confirmed that US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander had been released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross, calling it “big news". He expressed hope that more hostages could be freed soon.
While Trump previously promised to quickly end the Gaza war, his administration has appeared less engaged in recent weeks. He acknowledged tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Gaza and Iran policy, but noted ongoing indirect negotiations with Tehran, insisting “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon".
Trump hinted at a possible diplomatic breakthrough, saying he would consider diverting to Istanbul on Thursday if talks between Ukraine and Russia warrant his presence. “If I thought it would be helpful, I would”, he told reporters.
This tour mirrors Trump’s first overseas trip as president in 2017, which also began in Saudi Arabia. However, this time Israel is not on the itinerary — a move seen as underscoring the growing strategic and economic importance of the Gulf states in his foreign policy priorities.
