Aya Batraoui

So we might hear surprises from Trump in Qatar later today about his vision for a Gaza ceasefire.

Trump was greeted on the tarmac as he stepped off Air Force One by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. State TV showed them shaking hands as Saudi soldiers stood guard and the two leaders walked on a long lavender carpet flanked by American and Saudi flags. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

Trump was greeted on the tarmac as he stepped off Air Force One by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. State TV showed them shaking hands as Saudi soldiers stood guard and the two leaders walked on a long lavender carpet flanked by American and Saudi flags. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

under Trump is stronger than it was under President Biden, who only fist bumped the crown prince when he visited the kingdom. Trump, though, is here to make deals. Tens of billions of dollars in military and weapons sales to the kingdom are expected to be announced during the trip.

under Trump is stronger than it was under President Biden, who only fist bumped the crown prince when he visited the kingdom. Trump, though, is here to make deals. Tens of billions of dollars in military and weapons sales to the kingdom are expected to be announced during the trip.

Trump's traveling with several members of his cabinet, and American CEOs of major companies are in Riyadh for an investment forum today. Trump heads next to Qatar and the UAE. Aya Patrawi, NPR News, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Trump's traveling with several members of his cabinet, and American CEOs of major companies are in Riyadh for an investment forum today. Trump heads next to Qatar and the UAE. Aya Patrawi, NPR News, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

So tell us what's happening in Saudi Arabia, where you are today. So it began with Trump's arrival. You know, he was greeted on the tarmac by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And that's in contrast with Biden's visit here when they only fist bumped and the Crown Prince didn't even go out of his way to meet, you know, the president back then at the tarmac. Now, Trump is different.

So tell us what's happening in Saudi Arabia, where you are today. So it began with Trump's arrival. You know, he was greeted on the tarmac by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And that's in contrast with Biden's visit here when they only fist bumped and the Crown Prince didn't even go out of his way to meet, you know, the president back then at the tarmac. Now, Trump is different.

So tell us what's happening in Saudi Arabia, where you are today. So it began with Trump's arrival. You know, he was greeted on the tarmac by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And that's in contrast with Biden's visit here when they only fist bumped and the Crown Prince didn't even go out of his way to meet, you know, the president back then at the tarmac. Now, Trump is different.

You know, he's transactional. And what that means for the Gulf and Gulf leaders here is that they know that if they deliver on big weapons purchases and other investments in the U.S., Trump will give them something in return for their security. Ali Shahabi, a Saudi analyst, says there are huge economic interests on both sides.

You know, he's transactional. And what that means for the Gulf and Gulf leaders here is that they know that if they deliver on big weapons purchases and other investments in the U.S., Trump will give them something in return for their security. Ali Shahabi, a Saudi analyst, says there are huge economic interests on both sides.

You know, he's transactional. And what that means for the Gulf and Gulf leaders here is that they know that if they deliver on big weapons purchases and other investments in the U.S., Trump will give them something in return for their security. Ali Shahabi, a Saudi analyst, says there are huge economic interests on both sides.

So what Adi's saying here is that these big business deals, the bulk of them in weaponry and defense sales, are not just about economics. This maintains America's position as the Arab Gulf's main security guarantor at a time when Russia and China also have major inroads in this region.

So what Adi's saying here is that these big business deals, the bulk of them in weaponry and defense sales, are not just about economics. This maintains America's position as the Arab Gulf's main security guarantor at a time when Russia and China also have major inroads in this region.

So what Adi's saying here is that these big business deals, the bulk of them in weaponry and defense sales, are not just about economics. This maintains America's position as the Arab Gulf's main security guarantor at a time when Russia and China also have major inroads in this region.

Yeah, those personal ties are linked to his family's business interest in the Gulf. Just less than two weeks ago, his son, Eric Trump, who runs the family business, the Trump Organization, was in the region launching new projects, a Trump hotel tower in Dubai, a Trump golf course in Qatar. There's also money from the Gulf flowing into the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture,

Yeah, those personal ties are linked to his family's business interest in the Gulf. Just less than two weeks ago, his son, Eric Trump, who runs the family business, the Trump Organization, was in the region launching new projects, a Trump hotel tower in Dubai, a Trump golf course in Qatar. There's also money from the Gulf flowing into the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture,

Yeah, those personal ties are linked to his family's business interest in the Gulf. Just less than two weeks ago, his son, Eric Trump, who runs the family business, the Trump Organization, was in the region launching new projects, a Trump hotel tower in Dubai, a Trump golf course in Qatar. There's also money from the Gulf flowing into the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture,

And Qatar has just offered Trump a new Boeing airplane to replace one of the aging Air Force One jets. But also Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has $2 billion invested in his private equity fund from a Saudi fund overseen by the crown prince. So what we're seeing on this trip is a confluence of all these interests coming together.