Trump signs "the largest arms deal in history" with Saudi Arabia

BarcelonaThe tray of Arabic coffee steamed between the gloved fingers of a Saudi servant. In front of him, Donald Trump smiled, looked up at the golden ceilings of Riyadh's majestic Al Yamamah Palace, and, with an ambiguous gesture, declined the ritual drink. The cameras captured the moment: coffee served but not drunk. The anecdote was only the prologue to a day full of messages and millions.

The American president opened the Future Investment Forum in the heart of the Saudi kingdom with a speech that carefully avoided open conflicts in the region and focused on what he does best: doing business. "The United States is back. And under my administration, our allies in the Middle East can count on strong leadership, mutual respect, and, above all, opportunities for joint growth," Trump told an audience of business leaders, ministers, and princes.

The official agenda included a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), which Trump lavished praise on. "I'm very impressed with him; he's wise, wise beyond his years," said the president, who highlighted the "tremendous relationship" that unites them. "I really think we like each other very well," he added, in an informal but strategic tone.

Both leaders have emphasized their desire to further strengthen ties, and Trump has not missed the opportunity to express his gratitude for Saudi investments in the United States. "The Saudis are not just strategic partners. They are trusted partners who are committed to our country," the US president stated.

142 million in arms sales

During the ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, a series of memoranda of understanding, letters of intent, and agreements were signed. Saudi Arabia has pledged to invest $600 billion in the US, of which it will allocate $142 billion to "the largest arms purchase in history," in the words of the White House. The figures are not yet final, but Trump did not hesitate to boast about them. "We're talking about $600 billion in investments, and that's on its way to a trillion," he said, half-seriously, half-jokingly, in his usual style.

The arms purchase includes the supply to Saudi Arabia of "state-of-the-art warfare equipment and services from more than a dozen US defense companies," according to a statement from the US administration, in the form of equipment to strengthen the air force and space capabilities, information and communications systems, among others.

They also signed a $4.8 billion energy agreement between Aramco and US companies, focusing on research into carbon capture and green hydrogen. And projects in digital infrastructure and technological training have been finalized, in line with the Saudi vision of diversifying its economy. Added to this is a strategic economic partnership pact and a $20 billion Saudi investment in artificial intelligence in the United States. The White House has not skimped on enthusiasm: "A new golden age of collaboration between the United States and Saudi Arabia."

MBS, for his part, has used the visit to reinforce his image as a key interlocutor in international conflicts. In recent months, he has gained prominence as a mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine and as a central player in the reconfiguration of the Middle East following the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Trump has singled him out as "an essential figure" on the current international stage.

Accompanied by his Secretaries of State and Defense, Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, Trump wanted to make it clear that this tour's priority is to secure investment and relaunch strategic alliances in the region. At his side, the CEOs of BlackRock, Meta, Tesla, and OpenAI, Larry Fink, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman, respectively, were seen at lunch with the crown prince. Trump appeared comfortable among the magnates. "This is where the real deals are made," he said, making a toast during the meal.

War is out of the question.

While the media spotlight has focused on the investment forum, other pieces of the geopolitical puzzle have been brewing on the sidelines of the event. Privately, possible channels for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a new scheme of pressure on Tehran.

However, the arrival of the US leader in the region has not deterred Tel Aviv, which on Tuesday bombed two hospitals in Gaza: Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and the European Hospital, both in southern Gaza. The first attack killed two people, including Palestinian journalist Hasan Eslaih. Eslaih was admitted to this hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, receiving treatment for wounds sustained in another Israeli attack on April 7. Hours later, the Strip's medical services reported that the Israeli army had bombed the European Hospital, leaving at least six dead. Israeli forces confirmed the attack, claiming that they were targeting "Hamas operatives" who were "in an underground command center" at the hospital.

Meanwhile, and without much fanfare, Steve Witkoff—an American real estate developer and close ally of Trump—arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday as part of a business delegation exploring opportunities in the post-conflict reconstruction phase. Witkoff, known for his involvement in projects in the UAE and Bahrain following the Abraham Accords, did more than just talk business. Along with US special envoy Adam Boehler, he met for two hours with families of the hostages still held in Gaza. Both emphasized their "personal commitment" to the release of the remaining 58 hostages. Speaking to the press, Boehler asserted that after Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, there is now "a better opportunity" to reach an agreement that would allow for the release of the rest.

With a busy business agenda, the tour will continue this week in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In Abu Dhabi, Trump will seek to strengthen ties with Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and announce new joint projects in artificial intelligence and energy security. In Manama, a maritime cooperation initiative spearheaded by the Pentagon and supported by Riyadh is expected to be relaunched.

Although the tone of the trip is upbeat, Trump has landed in a region marked by persistent tensions. The war in Gaza remains unresolved, Syria remains in chaos, and pressure on Iran is growing. From the US president's perspective, stability requires more jobs, more capital, and more agreements. And if all this comes with spectacle, even better.