A veritable lovefest emerges as a marked contrast to relations during the Obama era.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Trump made a splashy debut on the world stage here Saturday, ushering in a new era in U. S.-Saudi Arabian relations by signing a joint “strategic vision” that includes a $110 billion in American arms sales and other new investments that the administration said would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs.
“It was a great day, ” Trump said. He cited “tremendous investments in the United States… and jobs, jobs.”
While initial details were scant, the agreements signed included a U. S. letter of intent to “support Saudi Arabia’s defense needs” with sales of a number of items – naval ships, tanks and other vehicles – that were the subject of agreements under earlier administrations, as well as some new items that had never passed the discussion stage, such as sophisticated THAAD missile defense systems.
Other items are intended to modernize Saudi Arabia’s cyber defense and modernize its airborne intelligence-gathering, and secure its borders.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in a news conference with his Saudi counterpart, described common views on counterterrorism, the threat from Iran and regional security. He outlined “like-minded” goals in the security and economic spheres and said, “we’ re very proud of this relationship that we are embarking on with the kingdom.”
What emerged as a veritable lovefest between the two governments was a marked contrast to years of growing estrangement under President Barack Obama.
“This is the beginning of a turning point in the relationship between the United States and the Arab and Islamic world, ” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir proclaimed.
Trump’s visit, he said, “begins to change the conversation” with the Islamic world “from one of enmity to one of partnership.”
In addition to the security agreements, Jubeir said, U. S. business leaders here at an economic forum designed to coincide with Trump’s visit signed deals potentially worth more than $200 billion over the next 10 years.
Executives from a number of major U. S. companies unveiled investment partnerships with the Saudis, including Blackstone, a private-equity giant that announced a $40 billion infrastructure fund. Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone’s chairman and chief executive, is close to Trump and leads the White House’s economic advisory council of CEO’s.
Jubeir also praised ExxonMobil, the energy behemoth that Tillerson ran until retiring to join the administration, as “the largest investor” in Saudi Arabia.
Trump was received like visiting royalty from the moment Air Force One touched down in Riyadh Saturday morning, after an all-night flight from Washington, where he hoped to leave behind the growing Russia scandal threatening his presidency.
In a series of official arrival ceremonies – at the airport and the Royal Court palace – Trump, his wife, Melania, and an entourage including virtually his entire senior White House staff and some of his Cabinet, were serenaded by military bands, treated to a flyover of Saudi jets, feted in opulent palaces and given the undivided attention of King Salman, the ruler of this ultra-conservative Muslim nation.
As Trump arrived at Murabba Palace for a royal dinner, hundreds of Saudi men in long, white robes danced the Ardha, a traditional sword dance that is performed on Saudi National Day and in honor of special guests.
Trump, grinning broadly at the festivities, waded in and took a few obligatory dips in the dance. Several of Trump’s male aides, along with Salman, participated with more enthusiasm. Tillerson and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross raised swords and linked arms with Saudis, chanting to the beat of feathered drums, while Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and National Economic Council director Gary Cohn also laughed and swayed.
American country star Toby Keith performed at a men’s-only concert in Riyadh on Saturday night, coinciding with Trump’s visit. As Trump and Salman were driven in a golf cart around the palace after dinner, the president trained his eyes on a jumbo screen playing the live concert.
The ebullient welcome reflected a kingdom eager to rekindle its relationship with the United States, and to use the visit to declare and solidify its own leadership role in the Muslim world.
Jubeir, in the news conference with Tillerson, heaped praise on Trump, saying that the foreign policy novice had the “vision, ” “strength” and “decisiveness, ” in the estimation of the Saudi leadership, to bring peace between Israel and Palestine. The minister went on to borrow one of Trump’s favorite campaign slogans, saying that a new relationship between America and the Arab world could “drain the swamps from which extremism and terrorism emanates.”
In their private talks, Trump and Salman discussed their shared view of the threat from Iran. Asked about Friday’s re-election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Tillerson said he hoped Rouhani would use his term to “begin dismantling Iran’s network of terror, ” stop destabilizing the Middle East, end ballistic missile testing and restore basic rights.
However, there was public silence from the U. S. delegation on the issue of human rights in Saudi Arabia, which has imprisoned peaceful critics of the government and has sharply restricted the rights of women. Ahead of the visit, Trump’s advisers said the president did not intend to “lecture” his hosts.
Obama, who sold about $115 billion in U. S. weapons to Saudi Arabia during his eight years as president, had slowed military cooperation with the kingdom in large part because of what it considered Saudi Arabia’s indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Yemen. The Trump deal puts those agreements back on track and expanded them.
Beyond the closed-door meetings, this desert capital was decked out for a celebration. As Riyadh baked in triple-digit heat under a pall of dust, American and Saudi flags flew from lightpoles. The facade of the Ritz Carlton, the palace-like hotel where Trump is staying, was illuminated with massive photos of the two leaders and the red, white, blue and green of the two nations’ flags.
Salman, 81, who ascended to the Saudi throne in early 2015, was brought in a golf cart to the airport red carpet laid out for Trump’s arrival.
The two exchanged greetings as a military brass band played, cannons boomed and seven Saudi jets flew in formation, trailing red, white and blue smoke.
“I’ m very happy to see you, ” Salman told Trump, who responded that it was a “great honor” to visit the kingdom.
Trump and the first lady – who had her hair uncovered and wore black long sleeves and flared pants – were presented bouquets of flowers by three traditionally dressed little girls.
Salman’s presence at the airport ceremony was a sign of the importance of Trump’s visit to the Saudis. Chatting through an interpreter, the men then walked into the VIP reception terminal at King Khalid International Airport for coffee.
The only U. S. president to make Saudi Arabia his first foreign visit, Trump was presented with the highest honor for a foreign dignitary, the collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud, named for the kingdom’s founder.
