Saudi Crown Prince Pledges At Least $600B Investment In U.S. During Presidential Call With Trump
US President Donald Trump (L), Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (c) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd R), and Britain's Theresa May Prime Minister Theresa May smiles during a family photo session. At the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019 (Photo credit should read Kim Kyung-hoon/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory 1:05pm – Friday, January 24, 2025
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declared that the kingdom intends to invest at least $600 billion in the United States over the next four years.
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The habit of US presidents making their first foreign trip to the UK was broken by Trump's 2017 visit to Saudi Arabia.
saudi arabia news agencyThe Saudi government-owned said earlier on Thursday that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who serves his country as prime minister, made the remark during a phone conversation with Trump.
“The Crown Prince confirmed the Kingdom's intention to expand its investments and expand trade with the United States, in the amount of $600 billion over the next four years, and potentially beyond that,” the report said. I am.
However, the locations where these investments and trade would take place were not detailed in the readouts.
After decades of being a cornerstone of their alliance, Saudi oil shipments have become less important to the United States in recent years. In addition to expressing interest in sports teams and athletes, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund has invested heavily in American companies.
“However, Saudi Arabia relies primarily on US weapons and defense systems, which could be part of the investment.” hill It has been reported.
The two leaders “discussed efforts to bring stability to the Middle East, strengthen regional security, and combat terrorism,” according to a White House statement.
“In addition, they discussed Saudi Arabia's international economic ambitions over the next four years and trade and other opportunities to increase the mutual prosperity of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the statement said.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reportedly spoke with the crown prince, the oil-rich country's de facto head.
Trump mentioned returning to the kingdom on his first foreign trip, as he did in 2017 following the inauguration.
“The first foreign trip usually took place in the United Kingdom, but we did it last time in Saudi Arabia because we agreed to buy $450 billion worth of products,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. . “If Saudi Arabia wants to buy another $450 billion or $500, raise it because of all the inflation. I think it's probably going to go.”
Nevertheless, White House Press Director Caroline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that she “knows nothing at this time” regarding a possible trip to Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, the Saudi kingdom and the Biden administration were reportedly discussing a broader agreement to diplomatically recognize Israel in exchange for defense protection and other assistance from the United States.
This week, Trump also suggested during remarks to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday that the total amount of proposed Saudi investment could be further increased.
“I ask the Crown Prince, who is a wonderful man, to round it out to about $1 trillion,” Trump said on a video call. “I think they will because we have been very good to them.”
🚨Trump: “Saudi Arabia plans to invest $600 million in America, but I ask the Crown Prince to close out 1T because he's a great guy.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/jyui4alrwo
