President Donald Trump returned to Washington from the first major trip of his second term with significant agreements in place. 

The deals struck in the Middle East mark historic moments for both the U.S. and its partners in the region. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have all committed to increasing their investments in the U.S., similar to deals Trump has pushed for with U.S. partners across the globe.

TRUMP PRAISES SAUDI ARABIA IN FIRST STOP ON MIDDLE EAST TRIP

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump signed several agreements on energy, investments, defense, mining and more that totaled $600 billion. This included a commitment by Google, Uber, Salesforce, AMD and Saudi Arabia’s DataVolt to invest $80 billion toward the development of revolutionary technologies in both countries.

American companies will also take on major projects in Saudi Arabia, including the King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, The Vault and Qiddiya City, according to the White House. The administration predicts the projects will generate a total of $2 billion in U.S. service exports. 

Additionally, several U.S. government departments will begin coordinating with Saudi government ministries, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as NASA and the Saudi Space Agency. 

Trump was also able to secure an agreement that would allow the U.S. to carry cargo between Saudi Arabia and third-party countries without stopping in the U.S., which the White House said is "an important right for cargo hub operations."

TRUMP MAKES HISTORIC UAE VISIT AS FIRST US PRESIDENT IN NEARLY 30 YEARS

Trump’s deals with Qatar were arguably the most controversial of his trip, after both Republicans and Democrats criticized a plan for Doha to provide a jumbo jet that is expected to be used as Air Force One. 

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., found themselves in a rare position — on the same side of an argument. However, they objected to the plan for different reasons. While Sanders questioned the constitutionality of the administration accepting the Qatari jet, Cruz cited "significant espionage and surveillance problems." Additionally, Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and John Kennedy, R-La., expressed their lack of trust in Doha.

"Qatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally. I mean, they support Hamas. So, what I'm worried about is the safety of the president," Scott told reporters on Tuesday.

The deals Trump secured during his trip will see Doha and Washington participate in agreements worth $1.2 trillion, according to the White House. This is in addition to economic deals totaling $243.5 billion, which include the sale of American-made aircraft to Qatar Airways.

The White House also touted a defense deal that will "lock in Qatar’s procurement of state-of-the-art military equipment from two leading U.S. defense companies." The two countries also agreed to a multibillion-dollar agreement to strengthen their security partnership.

STATE DEPARTMENT APPROVES SALE OF $1.4B WORTH OF HELICOPTERS, F-16 PARTS TO UAE AHEAD OF TRUMP'S VISIT

Trump left the UAE with $200 billion in commercial deals, including a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 American-manufactured aircraft. Additionally, Emirates Global Aluminum is set to invest $4 billion in an aluminum smelter project in Oklahoma, which will be one of the first new smelters built in the U.S. in 45 years, according to the White House.

The UAE and the U.S. also reached energy agreements in which the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will partner with ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum and EOG Resources to expand oil and natural gas production. The White House said in a statement that the deal is expected to "help lower energy costs and create hundreds of skilled jobs in both countries."

The deals made during Trump’s trip to Abu Dhabi are set to expedite a commitment the UAE made in March to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the U.S., which covered a range of industries, including energy and AI.

President Donald Trump and his motorcade were greeted by dozens of mounted camels after his plane landed in Qatar Wednesday morning as he continues his four-day trip to the Middle East. 

"We appreciate those camels," Trump said Wednesday while meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. "I haven't seen camels like that in a long time. And really, we appreciate it very much."

The motorcade traveling from the Doha airport to the Amiri Diwan, which serves as the central hub of the Qatari government, also included red Tesa Cybertrucks in an apparent nod to Tesla CEO and Trump ally Elon Musk, as well as men on horseback. 

SAUDIS DEPLOY MOBILE MCDONALD'S FOR TRUMP'S TRIP TO THE KINGDOM

Trump signed a series of agreements with al-Thani Wednesday as part of the trip, including a purchasing agreement by Qatar for Boeing aircraft, as well as letters of intent and "joint cooperation" between Qatar and the U.S. 

Trump arrived to Doha Wednesday morning, and met with local leaders as well joined a Qatari State Dinner. 

TRUMP SIGNS AGREEMENTS WITH QATAR ON DEFENSE AND BOEING PURCHASES

Wednesday's deals follow Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia Tuesday, when he signed a "strategic economic partnership" with Saudi Arabia for energy, defense, mining and space-based agreements that amount to $600 billion. Trump said the deal could lead to the creation of two million jobs in the U.S.

Saudi Arabia also welcomed Trump with grand gestures, including sending fighter jet escorts to welcome Air Force One to the ground and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeting Trump on the tarmac. 

The Saudis also rolled out a mobile version of Trump's beloved fast-food joint, McDonald's, in Riyadh during his trip. 

President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, a day after lifting all sanctions on Syria, marking a major shift in policy.

The last time a meeting between the two countries' leadership was with former President Bill Clinton in 2000. 

Trump met with al-Sharaa for an informal chat on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where he was set to address leaders as part of his four-day regional tour.

TRUMP SAYS HE'LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS

Trump stated at the summit this was a step toward peace and rebuilding relations with Syria’s government.

"We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government, as you know, beginning with my meeting with President Ahmed Al-Shara and Secretary Rubio's meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister in Turkey after discussing the situation with Crown Prince Mohammed," Trump said at the broader summit.

"I'm also ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start. It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful," he said.

Syrians were seen and heard celebrating the announcement by Trump that he would move to lift sanctions on the beleaguered Middle Eastern nation.

TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST TOUR BEGINS WITH SYRIA LOOMING AS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY

A statement from Syria’s Foreign Ministry called the announcement "a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people as we seek to emerge from a long and painful chapter of war."

Trump says he feels strongly that this new endeavor will give Syria a great chance at a fresh start.

"I felt very strongly that this would give them a chance," said the president. "It's not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good, strong chance. And it was my honor to do so, so we will be dropping all of the sanctions on Syria, which I think really is going to be a good thing."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also scheduled to meet with his Syrian counterpart later in the week.

Saudi Arabia rolled out a mobile and operational McDonald's truck for President Donald Trump's first visit to the nation since his inauguration in January, Fox News Digital found. 

A White House official confirmed that a mobile McDonald's food truck was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during Trump's visit. Images and video of the truck spread like wildfire on social media Tuesday morning, which marked Trump's first day in the Middle East. 

"Saudi Arabia brought in a mobile McDonald’s for President Trump on his visit," popular conservative social media commentator Benny Johnson posted on X, accompanied by footage showing the massive mobile McDonald's. 

Other accounts on X asked, "how's this real life?" or remarked that the scene of a truck holding Trump's beloved fast-food was "incredible." 

TRUMP MAKES FRIES AT PENNSYLVANIA MCDONALD'S: 'I'VE NOW WORKED FOR 15 MINUTES MORE THAN KAMALA'

Trump's love of McDonald's has long been documented. 

The president served a buffet of fast-food options when he welcomed national college football champions the Clemson Tigers to the White House in 2019. He also requested McDonald's following his COVID-19 diagnosis and recovery in 2020, according to his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. And anecdotes from his former bodyguard say Trump enjoyed Egg McMuffins for breakfast during the 2016 campaign. 

'VINDICTIVE': DEMOCRAT IN TIGHT SENATE RACE BLASTED BY GOP RIVAL FOR SWIPE AT MCDONALD'S AFTER TRUMP VISIT

Trump's love of the fast-food staple was underscored during the 2024 campaign cycle, when he donned a McDonald's apron and worked the fryer at a location in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. 

"Hello, everybody. It's my first day at McDonald's. I'm looking for a job," Trump said as he entered the McDonald's location in Feasterville-Trevose, which is located near Philadelphia, in October 2024. 

WOMAN SERVED BY TRUMP AT MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU REVEALS DETAILS BEHIND VIRAL EXCHANGE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT

Trump also worked the drive-thru window during his McDonald's shift, greeting customers and vowing that he would make the U.S. "better than ever" if re-elected to the Oval Office. 

LIBERAL MEDIA HAS MELTDOWN OVER TRUMP'S 'FIRST DAY' WORKING AT MCDONALD'S 

Trump arrived in Riyadh early Tuesday morning, with the nation sending fighter jet escorts to welcome Air Force One to the ground and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeting Trump on the tarmac that was adorned with a lavender-colored carpet.

"Air Force One about to go wheels down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with Saudi F-15 fighter jets bringing us in. On behalf of President Trump, THANK YOU!" White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted on X while sharing a video of jets flying alongside the U.S. president's plane.

Trump's trip included the president signing a "strategic economic partnership" with the country for energy, defense, mining and space-based agreements that amount to $600 billion. Trump said the deal could lead to the creation of 2 million jobs in the U.S.

Fox News Digital's Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.

Saudi Arabian fighter jets appeared to escort Air Force One as President Donald Trump arrived in the country on Tuesday for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"Air Force One about to go wheels down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with Saudi F-15 fighter jets bringing us in. On behalf of President Trump, THANK YOU!" White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino posted on X while sharing a video of jets flying alongside the U.S. president's plane.

Two jets flew on the left side of AF1 and three flew on the right.

TRUMP TARGETS MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN FIRST MIDDLE EAST TRIP

Scavino also shared a video of the crown prince greeting Trump on a purple carpet after he landed at King Khalid International Airport. The two leaders had a coffee ceremony shortly after greeting one another.

The president brought a slew of administration leaders with him, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Trump arrived at the Royal Court in Riyadh at around 5:30 a.m. EST where he was welcomed with a ceremony and then participated in greetings with Saudi officials and U.S. guests. Trump is expected to have lunch and meetings over a three-hour period.

Former President Donald Trump is embarking this week on a high-stakes tour of the Persian Gulf region, targeting business deals and strategic partnerships with three oil-rich nations: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The trip marks Trump's first major foreign visit of his new term and comes as nuclear negotiations with Iran drag on and as war continues between Israel and the Palestinian terror organization, Hamas, in the Gaza Strip. While business is the official focus, the backdrop is anything but calm.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the mission as part of Trump’s broader vision that "extremism is defeated [through] commerce and cultural exchanges."

Under President Joe Biden, U.S. relations with Gulf states cooled, particularly after Biden vowed to make Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a "pariah" over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Trump has reversed course, embracing a more transactional approach that has warmed ties with regional leaders.

"The overall goal here is that the United States is reminding our Middle East allies that we're here to stay," said Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum. "We’re here to promote our joint interests rather than the abandonment policies under the previous administration."

Saudi Arabia has already pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments, spanning weapons purchases, technology transfers, artificial intelligence and the stock market. Trump has said he believes the Saudis may ultimately commit up to $1 trillion.

While Saudi leaders aim to diversify their economy away from oil, those massive investments still depend on oil revenues, which could be threatened by Trump’s push to lower global energy prices.

TRUMP STRAINS RELATIONSHIP WITH NETANYAHU AS MIDDLE EAST POLICY INCREASINGLY ISOLATES ISRAEL

In addition to economic deals, Trump and bin Salman are expected to discuss a possible civil nuclear program and expanded defense cooperation. Such agreements were once linked to a potential Abraham Accords-style normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

But Riyadh has made clear it won’t recognize Israel unless Palestinian statehood is on the table, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has staunchly opposed. No stop in Israel is scheduled during Trump’s tour.

"Israeli normalization in any Saudi-U.S. project is an outdated option," said Saudi geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari. "The second Trump administration is doubling down on its strategically autonomous Middle East policy."

In a possible goodwill gesture ahead of the trip, Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, a move Trump called "monumental" in the push to end the Gaza conflict.

And as the UAE seeks to boost its ties with the U.S. and become a global AI leader by 2030, it’ll need American microchips. The UAE has gone even further than the Saudis, promising $1.4 trillion in U.S. investments over the next decade focused on AI, semiconductors, manufacturing and energy. 

Biden had tightened curbs on AI exports to keep such technologies out of the hands of adversaries at a time when China drew closer to Middle Eastern states, especially the UAE. 

On Thursday, the U.S. announced Trump would rescind the Biden-era restrictions. 

Trump’s whirlwind Gulf visit begins Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he’ll headline the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum alongside Saudi ministers, White House crypto czar David Sacks and other business leaders.

On Wednesday, he’ll attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting before flying to Qatar for talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and a visit to the U.S. military’s Al Udeid Air Base.

Thursday’s final stop is Abu Dhabi, where Trump will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

4TH ROUND OF US-IRAN TALKS ENDS AS TRUMP SET TO EMBARK ON HISTORIC MIDDLE EAST TOUR

The Qataris are pulling out all the stops to impress: They’ve offered Trump the use of a royal Boeing 747-8, typically reserved for the Qatari royal family, to serve as Air Force One.

Since being named a major non-NATO ally by Biden in 2022, Qatar has deepened its ties with the U.S., hosting American troops and mediating sensitive negotiations, including ongoing back-channel talks between Israel and Gaza.

Doha also maintains close contact with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who ousted Bashar al-Assad and is now seeking sanctions relief and normalized ties with the West.

"Regional leaders will have an opportunity to address the situation directly with the president," said regional expert Jonathan Bass. "Trump is the only man that can lead the way."

While a fourth round of Iran nuclear talks in Oman over the weekend failed to produce a breakthrough, Tehran is expected to keep a close eye on Trump’s Gulf meetings.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made unannounced visits to both Saudi Arabia and Qatar ahead of Trump’s arrival, likely in hopes of passing messages through those governments to Washington.

But all three of Trump’s host nations, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, remain wary of Iran’s ambitions.

"The region needs to openly address the problem of the IRGC," said Bass, referring to Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. "The IRGC is trying to undermine every single country in the region."

President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week to advance a flurry of high-stakes negotiations, but his trip comes as cracks seem to have appeared in his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the agenda are reviving hostage talks with Israel and Hamas, exploring an off-ramp for the Russia-Ukraine war and potentially a civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, even if the kingdom refuses to normalize ties with Israel.

However, an apparent chill between Trump and Netanyahu has grabbed the attention of Middle East watchers.

Yanir Cozin, a correspondent for Israeli Army Radio, claimed this week that Trump had "cut contact" with the Israeli leader. That report has not been independently confirmed, but it aligns with an emerging perception in Israeli political circles that the Trump-Netanyahu axis may be fraying.

4TH ROUND OF US-IRAN TALKS ENDS AS TRUMP SET TO EMBARK ON HISTORIC MIDDLE EAST TOUR

"There's always a method to the president's madness, so to speak," said Scott Feltman, executive vice president of the One Israel Fund. "There is a prevailing thought that [Trump] very much wants Israel to stand on its own two feet… To some extent, he may be giving the prime minister a little bit of tough love."

Sources told Reuters Trump is prepared to move forward with a civil nuclear deal with Riyadh even if Saudi Arabia holds off on normalizing relations with Israel – a dramatic shift from both his first administration and Biden’s, which had tied such deals to broader normalization goals.

For Israel, that shift may be unsettling. Riyadh has long insisted on the creation of a Palestinian state as a precondition for full ties with Israel, an outcome Netanyahu has rejected.

Over the weekend, it was revealed Trump was in talks with Doha officials about a potential deal for Qatar to loan the U.S. a jet to replace Air Force One. Israeli supporters have long been skeptical of Qatar, claiming it has ties to Hamas. 

Meanwhile, frustration in Jerusalem grew this week when the U.S. reached a ceasefire agreement with Yemen’s Houthi militants. The deal, brokered without Israeli input, required the Houthis to halt attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes but made no mention of their assaults on Israel.

"Trump, to a large extent, basically threw Israel under the bus," said Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official and regional analyst. "I think the Israeli government is puzzled, embarrassed … particularly in the context of the Houthis."

Netanyahu made clear Israel would not rely on the U.S. to handle the Houthi threat. "Israel will defend itself by its own forces," he said Thursday, with Defense Minister Israel Katz echoing that position.

TRUMP SAYS LAST LIVING AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER WILL BE RELEASED BY HAMAS

Despite the rhetoric, the U.S. continues to support Israel’s defenses. On Friday, a U.S. THAAD missile system intercepted rockets fired toward Israel by Houthi forces.

"The United States isn’t required to get permission from Israel to make some type of arrangement that would get the Houthis from firing on our ships," U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee told Israel’s Channel 12 this week. 

However, Huckabee shot down any report of tensions between the two world leaders. 

"It’s reckless & irresponsible for press to allege that @POTUS and @IsraeliPM are not getting along," Huckabee said in a post on X. "Bibi has spent more time with @realDonaldTrump than I have in past 3 months & I’m his ambassador! The relationship between US & Israel remains STRONG!"

"Israel has had no better friend in its history than President Trump. We continue to work closely with our ally Israel to ensure remaining hostages in Gaza are freed, Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and to strengthen regional security in the Middle East," National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt told Fox News Digital in response to the reports of tensions. 

Other experts caution against reading too much into the friction.

"The Israelis never had any false impressions that the U.S. was striking the Houthis to defend Israel," said Gregg Roman of the Middle East Forum. "It was to protect global commerce... And it’s not like the U.S. has abandoned Israel."

Roman also downplayed tensions over the potential Saudi nuclear deal. "I think a safer Saudi Arabia, at the end of the day, will lead to a safer Israel."

Adding to the regional uncertainty is Netanyahu’s silence on Iran. While his government has tallied recent gains against Iranian proxies – Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime – he has so far refrained from weighing in publicly on nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Still, Netanyahu says he remains in close contact with the Trump team about Iran. "I said to President Trump that I hope that this is what the negotiators will do," he recently told reporters. "We’re in close contact with the United States. But I said one way or the other—Iran will not have nuclear weapons."

Trump "is not scheduled to visit Israel on this trip, and I actually think that that might very well be a good thing, because he may find that he hears from the Sunni states that they're just as upset about the path that is taking place right now with negotiations with Iran," said Feltman. "They have just as much to lose from a nuclear Iranian regime."

Dana White has stepped outside the octagon and into the ring.

The president of UFC and WWE's Nick Khan, who together lead TKO Holdings, have agreed to bring a boxing promotion to Saudi Arabia.

TKO announced Wednesday it entered a multiyear partnership with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Sela, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

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"This is a strategic opportunity to reimagine the sport of boxing globally," TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro said. "TKO has the deep expertise, promotional prowess and longstanding relationships. 

"Turki Alalshikh and Sela share our passion and vision for evolving the current model. Together, we can bring the sweet science back to its rightful place in the forefront of the global sports ecosystem."

Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh added, "I am very happy today. I give the flag of boxing to the best man who can handle it. 

"We have a tough job now. But I am sure he will be delivering to the people and the fans the magnificent league and get boxing great again.

"This landmark partnership between industry powerhouses sets the stage for an unparalleled experience for boxers and fans," Alalshikh continued. "Together, we are developing the next generation of talent and delivering world-class events at a time when the sport is primed for further disruption."

"The model is proven — to deliver the fights that the fans want to see. The best will fight the best. And the fighters will continue to move up the rankings and become world champions," White said.

Combat sports have been part of the Saudis' sports spectacle. Tyson Fury defeated Francis Ngannou there in October 2023. WWE also reached a deal with the Saudis to host events there, and the Royal Rumble will be held in Riyadh in 2026. LIV Golf is also funded by the PIF, which also hosts an F1 race.

Alalshikh purchased Ring Magazine in November and will stage a May 2 boxing card in Times Square.

The fighters on the card are known: Ryan Garcia against Rolando "Rolly" Romero in the main event; Devin Haney against Jose Ramirez in the co-main; and Teofimo Lopez against Arnold Barboza Jr. in a title fight as the opener.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Saudi Arabia has emerged as a central player in the pursuit of a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, in large part due to the political capital it wields with its massive oil reserves. 

President Donald Trump suggested Riyadh as a meeting place to kick off face-to-face talks between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin agreed the location was acceptable. To some it might seem a curious choice, but the Middle Eastern kingdom has reasons to involve itself in finding an end to the conflict happening thousands of miles from its borders. 

For Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, mediating peace negotiations would help to solidify his standing as a global leader. It also offers him a leg up on Qatar, which was heavily involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Qatar has also, since 2023, helped facilitate the return of dozens of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war. 

Trump cited both his and Putin’s relationship with the Saudis in his remarks. "We know the crown prince, and I think it’d be a very good place to be," he said. 

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It's why Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has taken a front-row seat to the U.S. dealings in Eastern Europe. Witkoff jetted off to Moscow this week and returned home with Marc Fogel, an American teacher who had been detained by the Kremlin on charges of bringing medical marijuana into Russia in 2021. Witkoff credited Prince Mohammed for his "instrumental" role in mediating the release. 

Trump said in a Truth Social post Wednesday he'd designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Witkoff to lead peace negotiations but failed to mention the special envoy he originally hired for the task, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg. The post came after he spoke by phone with both Putin and Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy. 

The Saudi kingdom is the largest exporter of oil in the world and plays a critical role in setting global prices. Higher oil prices generate more revenue for the Kremlin from Russia’s own exports.

In 2024, Russia made $108.22 billion from oil and gas sales, 26% more than the previous year, according to Reuters. 

Trump has repeatedly pressed nations in the OPEC alliance to flood the market with oil and lower the global price, believing Russia would be more open to negotiations if its war coffers are hit. 

"Right now the price is high enough that that war will continue," Trump told executives at the World Economic Forum at Davos last month.

"You got to bring down the oil price," he said. "That will end that war. You could end that war."

The Trump team is far closer to the Saudis than the Biden administration was, though relations may strain over Trump's plan to move Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and into neighboring nations and take over the territory. Still, bin Salman has pledged to invest as much as $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. 

FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL LANDS IN US AFTER YEARS IN RUSSIAN CAPTIVITY 

Trump, who spoke to bin Salman just ahead of his Davos remarks, said he would be asking "the Crown Prince, who's a fantastic guy, to round it out to around $1 trillion."

The Saudis and Ukraine have a common enemy in Iran, which has long been providing Russia with Shahed drones and other munitions. 

"The [Iran-backed] Houthis have deployed Iranian weaponry against Saudi Arabia, targeting critical infrastructure, including oil pipelines and airports," said Daniel Balson of the advocacy group Razom for Ukraine. "In fact, repeated Houthi attacks against highly urbanized targets like Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia have served as a prelude for Russia's use of drone warfare against Ukrainian cities."

In May 2023, bin Salman invited Zelenskyy to speak at a meeting of Arab leaders in Jeddah. Later that year, Zelenskyy and bin Salman held closed-door talks with diplomats from 40 countries on ending the war, but Russia did not participate.

Putin thanked Saudi Arabia in August for its role in negotiating the most extensive prisoner swap since the Cold War, securing the release of 26 people.