Trump’s Riyadh Visit: Praise, Partnerships, and a Shift in Tone
Riyadh buzzed with anticipation as a prominent American leader embarked on his first major overseas trip of his second term, landing in Saudi Arabia to address a gathering of the world’s business elite. The focus of the visit quickly centered on the strong rapport between the American leader and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In a striking display of camaraderie, the American leader openly lauded the Crown Prince for his role in transforming Riyadh into a significant global business hub. Addressing the assembled dignitaries, he posed a direct, almost personal question to the Crown Prince: “Mohammed, do you sleep at night? How do you sleep? What a job.” He continued, playfully suggesting that the Crown Prince likely shared the anxieties of leadership, adding, “He tosses and turns like some of us, tosses and turns all night…How do I make it better?’ It’s the ones who don’t toss and turn, they’re the ones who will never take you to the promised land.” This unexpected praise drew a laugh from the Crown Prince and a subsequent standing ovation from the audience.
The American leader further expressed his admiration for the Kingdom’s rapid development under the Crown Prince’s guidance, stating, “Critics doubted it (Saudi’s rise) was possible, what you’ve done, but over the past eight years. Saudi Arabia has proved the critics totally wrong…I like him a lot. I like him too much.”
Underscoring his commitment to a “close relationship” between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the American leader announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, a move he attributed to the requests of the Crown Prince and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, remarking with a touch of drama, “Oh, what I do for the crown prince.” He went on to describe the Kingdom as “the center of the world” in a speech that notably omitted any mention of human rights concerns within the country, including the widely reported 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. While the Crown Prince has consistently denied any involvement in the journalist’s murder and has highlighted reforms such as increased rights for women, analysts point out that these advancements are often overshadowed by ongoing restrictions on dissent and political freedoms.
The enduring connection between the American leader and the Crown Prince appears to be rooted in mutual strategic objectives. The American leader is keen on securing significant economic gains and reasserting American influence in the region, while the Crown Prince seeks access to cutting-edge technology, military support, and a powerful ally to bolster his ambitious modernization plans for Saudi Arabia and his pursuit of regional leadership. During the summit, the American leader proudly announced a substantial $142 billion defense agreement and a comprehensive $600 billion Saudi investment package encompassing artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and energy.
However, the close ties between the American leader and the Crown Prince have drawn criticism from US lawmakers, human rights organizations, and foreign policy experts, who argue that economic interests appear to be prioritized over human rights concerns.
This approach marks a clear departure from the stance taken during the previous administration. In 2019, the then-US presidential candidate pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” on the global stage due to the Khashoggi killing and its broader human rights record. However, evolving geopolitical realities, particularly the surge in oil prices partly triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, underscored the necessity of cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. This ultimately led to a recalibration of the strategic relationship, culminating in a visit by the then-US President to the Crown Prince in July 2022. The encounter, marked by a fist bump between the two leaders, drew its own share of criticism as some viewed it as an overly warm gesture given the persistent human rights concerns. White House aides at the time explained it as a measure to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
The recent visit and pronouncements signal a potential return to a foreign policy approach that prioritizes strategic alliances and economic opportunities, even amidst ongoing concerns about human rights within the Kingdom. The dynamics between these two powerful figures will undoubtedly continue to shape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and beyond.
