May 14, 2025
President Donald Trump secured a historic $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia as part of a broader $600 billion strategic economic partnership signed in Riyadh. The agreement, which also includes cooperation in energy, mining, space, and sports, fell short of Trump’s initial $1 trillion goal but remains one of the largest deals in U.S.-Saudi history. High-profile executives such as Elon Musk and leaders from BlackRock and Nvidia accompanied Trump, highlighting the global economic implications of the visit. The deal aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities, particularly through military education and modernization, and marks a deepening of U.S.-Saudi ties. Trump’s itinerary also includes visits to Qatar and the UAE, where he plans to address regional issues including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Gaza conflict.
Trump’s Middle East tour has taken an unexpected diplomatic turn with the possibility of his participation in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Turkish President Erdoğan has offered to host the negotiations in Istanbul, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to attend, challenging Vladimir Putin to do the same. While Zelensky demands a 30-day ceasefire supported by Europe and initially backed by Trump’s envoy, Putin has proposed talks without such conditions, which Trump now supports. This alignment with Putin’s position has caused concern among European allies, who warn of severe sanctions if Russia refuses the ceasefire. Trump’s openness to attend the talks has increased pressure on Putin but drawn criticism from former President Biden and others who see it as undermining Western unity and emboldening Moscow’s stance.
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SOURCE: The Sun