Saudis Invest Big In U.S. Weapons, AI

Saudi Arabia has pledged billions of dollars in deals with the United States—ranging from defense to artificial intelligence—while giving President Donald Trump a grand reception during the first state visit of his second term, Haitham El-Tabei, David Stout, and Shaun Tandon reported for Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Trump welcomed a $600 billion investment pledge from Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Drzazgowski

Fighter jets escorted Air Force One into Saudi airspace, and Trump’s motorcade was accompanied by flag-waving cavalry and a ceremonial guard of honor stretching for blocks.

Under glittering chandeliers at the royal palace, Trump welcomed a $600 billion investment pledge from Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, joking that the figure “should be $1 trillion.”

“We have the biggest business leaders in the world here today, and they’re going to walk away with a lot of checks,” Trump told the prince.

Reporting for Euronews, Kieran Guildert noted that Trump had secured a $142 billion (€127 billion) defense agreement that will equip the kingdom with state-of-the-art military hardware, in exchange for a $20 billion (€17 billion) Saudi investment in the U.S. AI sector.

In total, the two leaders signed more than a dozen agreements to boost cooperation between their countries' militaries, justice systems, and cultural institutions.