What will Saudi Arabia-Trump relationship look like this time?

Even those who disagree with President Donald Trump acknowledge that, under his leadership, the US has been experiencing, from Day 1, a revolution leading to significant changes, even if he has not fulfilled all his promises literally.
What is important and different this time is that Trump is not just an individual but part of a broad movement. He enters the White House prepared, armed with his projects and administrative leadership, and with a general public sentiment eager for and supportive of his proposals. With this momentum, it is a revolution unlike any previous presidency and even different from his first term.
For our region, we believe we have come to know him well. He has a desire to achieve Palestinian-Arab-Israeli peace. He wants to resolve the Iranian issue with one of two options: reconciliation and the stopping of nuclear activities, or confrontation. He has also announced that he wants to address the Syrian issue, including Turkiye’s military role there. He will support “Iraqi sovereignty,” which means ending the militias aligned with Iran so that he can withdraw the remaining US troops.
In Yemen, he made the Houthis his first target, returning them to America’s list of designated terrorist organizations. His predecessor, Joe Biden, took them off the list in 2021 before threatening to reintroduce the designation if the militia did not cease its attacks; yet he never did, even when they continued. Trump, on the other hand, has told them to stop if they want their name removed from the terrorism list.
Because Saudi Arabia maintained a special relationship with Trump during his previous presidency, he chose to make his first phone call with a world leader to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He also announced his intention to visit the Kingdom again.

The relationship between Riyadh and Washington has always been strategic.

Abdulrahman Al-Rashed

He said Saudi Arabia could be the first foreign country he visits and that his trip will include economic agreements worth $450 billion to $500 billion. On this point, most non-urgent visits have economic dimensions. When Trump speaks, he addresses his audience in the language of the market — profits and losses. Let us remember that economic dealings with the US are a gain, while the danger lies in being placed on the list of those banned from trading with it.
Last month, in response to hostile voices against it, the Chinese Foreign Ministry commented that economic dealings between China and the US benefit both sides. China has investments worth about $700 billion in the US.
During his first presidency, Trump visited Riyadh after the crown prince launched his giant Vision 2030 project. Agreements were made on major projects, but some did not come to fruition, either due to constraints from US lawmakers at the time or other considerations. Ultimately, their scale was less than the announced ambitions. Most of the promised contracts were implemented in long-term installments, sometimes over 10 years, with a significant portion being profitable investments.
The relationship between Riyadh and Washington has always been strategic rather than circumstantial. This became clear to former President Biden, who, even without oil, trade deals or personal ties, proposed strategic cooperation and a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. With Trump, the relationship is likely to be closer and warmer, especially since the crown prince invested in the relationship with him and found him to be a reliable ally.
There is also one major project for the benefit of the region, which cannot be measured in dollars and will not be overshadowed by investments: the desire to achieve regional peace and the pursuit of a two-state solution by establishing a Palestinian state.
Trump is an exceptional personality with big dreams. It is important for us to align with him and gain his support.

• Abdulrahman Al-Rashed is a Saudi journalist and intellectual. He is the former general manager of Al-Arabiya news channel and former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, where this article was originally published.  X: @aalrashed