DONALD Trump has landed in Riyadh to kickstart the first leg of his three-nation visit to the Middle East this week.
Don will first meet Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more.
ReutersAir Force One carrying U.S. President Donald Trump lands at Khalid International Airport in Riyadh[/caption]
GettyPresident Donald Trump is greeted by Air Force Col. Paul R. Pawluk as he arrives to board Air Force One on May 12[/caption]
ReutersA screen displays a picture of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud shaking the hand of U.S. President Donald Trump[/caption]
The crown prince is also expected to fete Trump with a formal dinner and a gathering of members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later on Tuesday.
It comes after Trump accepted a luxury plane dubbed the “flying palace” as a gift from Qatar’s royal family.
This elaborate gift, which was expected to be announced this week, could be the most expensive ever given by a foreign power to the United States.
The $400 million (£300 million) jumbo jet will be available to be used as a new “Air Force One” for much of Trump’s remaining term in office.
After this, it would be transferred Trump Presidential Library Foundation by 2029, according to US media reports.
The gift was expected to be announced this week during the president’s visit to Qatar, but Trump appeared to confirm it on social media.
Trump has also said he may travel on Thursday to Turkey for potential face-to-face talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump’s second foreign trip since taking office again – his first was to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral – comes during a moment of geopolitical tension.
In addition to pressing for a settlement to the war in Ukraine, his administration is pushing for a new aid mechanism for war-torn Gaza and urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree a new ceasefire deal there.
Over the weekend, US and Iranian negotiators met in Oman to discuss a potential deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump has threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.
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