Trump Engages in First Foreign Call with Saudi Crown Prince

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Trump Engages in First Foreign Call with Saudi Crown Prince

Synopsis

On January 23, US President Donald Trump conversed with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking his first foreign leader call since taking office. They discussed peace, security, and investment opportunities, highlighting ongoing relations between the two nations amid regional complexities.

Key Takeaways

  • Trump's first foreign leader call since taking office was with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
  • The conversation focused on fostering peace and stability in the Middle East.
  • Saudi Arabia aims to invest $600 billion in the US over the next four years.
  • Trump and Prince Mohammed maintain a close relationship despite past controversies.
  • The call signifies ongoing collaboration on defense and economic matters.

Washington, Jan 23 (NationPress) - US President Donald Trump had a conversation with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to reports from various media outlets.

This marks his first known interaction with a foreign leader since taking office, occurring amidst a complicated backdrop in the Middle East.

During their discussion, the Crown Prince extended congratulations to Trump and relayed greetings from King Salman, expressing wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the American populace.

The two leaders touched upon fostering bilateral efforts to promote peace, security, and stability in the Middle East, alongside enhancing their collaboration to combat terrorism.

A newly established hostage-and-ceasefire agreement is generating optimism for improved relations between Israel and its neighboring countries.

According to a statement from the Saudi official news agency, Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump “explored avenues for cooperation between the Kingdom and the United States of America to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region, as well as enhancing collaborative efforts against terrorism.”

Saudi Arabia was the initial destination for Trump during his first international trip as president.

This week in the Oval Office, he mentioned that he selected the kingdom due to commitments from its officials to make substantial investments in the United States. Trump indicated he would contemplate a return to Saudi Arabia if similar investment opportunities arose.

Prince Mohammed seems to grasp the sentiment.

In the conversation on Wednesday, he emphasized “the Kingdom’s ambition to amplify its investments and trade relations with the United States by an estimated $600 billion over the next four years, with potential increases if additional opportunities arise.”

Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince nurtured a close partnership during his first term, aided in part by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. This strong relationship persisted despite a US intelligence report suggesting that Prince Mohammed was significantly involved in the killing of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the first foreign leader to engage in a phone call with US President Donald Trump following his inauguration for a second term.

This agreement is likely to be part of a substantial defense pact that Riyadh aims to finalize with Washington, providing Saudi Arabia with security assurances from the US in the event of an attack, alongside major investments in the American economy.

Trump expressed to the Saudi Crown Prince his eagerness to collaborate with Riyadh to further shared interests, as the Saudi readout noted.

No immediate summary has been released from the White House.