JOINT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, DECRIES MEMBERS’ INACCESSIBILITY OF EDUCATION, JOBS, HEALTH FACILITIES IN ANAMBRA. (PHOTO).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged a $600 billion boost in trade and investments with the United States during a phone call with Donald Trump following his return to the White House, state media reported on Thursday.
The crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, expressed the kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its economic partnership with the U.S. over the next four years.
“The crown prince affirmed the kingdom’s intention to expand its investments and trade with the U.S., amounting to $600 billion or more,” according to the Saudi Press Agency. However, details on the source of the funds or their intended allocation were not disclosed.
Prince Mohammed also conveyed congratulations from King Salman and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s readiness to deepen bilateral ties. Trump, who forged close relations with Riyadh during his first term, joked about a potential repeat of his 2017 visit to Saudi Arabia if a major financial commitment was made.
Trump’s earlier administration saw Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Analysts expect the new Trump administration to pursue similar objectives with Riyadh.
While Saudi Arabia has insisted it will not recognize Israel without progress on Palestinian statehood, recent developments, including a potential Gaza ceasefire, could pave the way for resumed talks.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia seeks a U.S. defense pact and assistance with a civil nuclear program as part of any normalization agreement with Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also held discussions with the crown prince on Thursday, focusing on regional issues such as Iran, Gaza, and opportunities for economic collaboration, particularly in emerging fields like artificial intelligence.
Trump has maintained close ties with Riyadh even after his first presidency, with significant Saudi investments in his private business ventures, including a $2 billion investment in a private equity firm run by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
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