Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May 2025, marking what would be his first foreign trip since returning to the White House on January 20.
According to a report by Axios, citing two American officials and one insider source, the visit is being organised as part of growing strategic coordination between Washington and Riyadh. It also reflects Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence in American foreign policy under Trump’s leadership.
During his upcoming visit, Trump is expected to finalise a massive economic and defence deal with Saudi Arabia worth over $1 trillion USD, including extensive military equipment purchases and infrastructure investments across the U.S.
A Repeat of 2017 — With Bigger Numbers
Trump himself indicated on March 6 that he planned to visit the Kingdom within six weeks, reminiscing that his first foreign visit during his initial presidency was also to Riyadh in 2017, where he announced $350 billion in Saudi investments.
Now, the deal appears to be even larger, and possibly more politically consequential.
Geopolitical Backdrop: Ukraine, Russia, and the Gulf
Axios reports that the trip has been quietly discussed for weeks, including during high-level conversations between U.S. and Saudi officials, some of which occurred on the sidelines of recent talks on the Ukraine war.
Although April 28 was initially floated as a potential date, sources confirmed that the visit was postponed to mid-May, pending final arrangements.
Saudi Arabia has recently taken a more visible role in regional diplomacy, including hosting discussions between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv, positioning itself as a neutral broker in a bid to raise its international standing.
Trump’s Push for More Normalisation
Last week, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the Abraham Accords—a controversial normalisation project forged during his first term, bringing the Israeli occupation regime into formal diplomatic relations with several Gulf countries.
Trump claimed that “more nations are eager to join,” and the White House has specifically pointed to Saudi Arabia as a key target for future inclusion.
However, despite quiet pressure from Washington, Riyadh has expressed hesitations, particularly due to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and the mounting public outrage in the Arab and Muslim world.
Saudi officials remain reluctant to advance formal normalisation amid widespread criticism of Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people, fearing regional backlash and loss of credibility in the Muslim world.
