Trump to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE in May
President Trump will embark on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13–16, the White House confirms.
Tags
Saudi Arabia
News and updates about Saudi Arabia
Saudi Defense Minister, son of King, visits Iran
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud is highest highest-ranking Saudi to visit Iran in nearly 30 years. He will meet with the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces.
White House confirms:
Trump will visit Saudi Arabia in May
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirms Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia in May, in what will be his first trip abroad in his second term.
First overseas trip
Trump confirms plans for Middle East visit
President Donald Trump announces plans to visit the Middle East in the coming weeks, marking his first foreign trip of his second term. The itinerary includes stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with the possibility of additional destinations.
Report:
Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May on first foreign trip
Sources tell Axios that US President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, marking his first foreign trip since returning to the White House. No plans at this time for a trip to Israel.
Missile launched from Yemen falls in Saudi Arabia
Missile fired from Yemen towards Israel lands in Saudi Arabia; country's air defense says US forces intercepted the missile.
Macron and Saudi Crown Prince condemn Israeli strikes in Gaza
French President says he spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and they condemned the resumption of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Rubio to Saudi Crown Prince:
'There should be no role for Hamas in Gaza'
Secretary of State meets Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah, reiterates US position that Hamas must have no role in postwar Gaza.
Egypt’s Sisi to visit Riyadh for talks on Gaza plan
Egyptian President expected to visit Riyadh on Thursday to discuss an Arab initiative for Gaza that could include up to $20 billion for reconstruction.
Talks on Gaza:
Rubio, Saudi Crown Prince emphasize regional security
Secretary of State visits Riyadh, tells Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that any resolution for Gaza must enhance regional security. State Department statement makes no mention of Trump's Gaza plan.
Report:
Saudi Arabia seeks to broker deal between Trump and Iran
CNN report: Saudi Arabia has expressed openness to mediating between the Trump administration and Iran in the efforts to negotiate a new agreement aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program.
'A fantasy of ethnic cleansing'
Saudi official condemns Trump’s Gaza plan
Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal rips Trump’s proposal for Gazans to relocate to other countries: The problem in Palestine is not the Palestinians. It is the Israeli occupation.
Saudi Arabia clarifies:
'No normalization with Israel without a Palestinian state'
Saudi Arabia reaffirms that normalization with Israel is conditioned on a Palestinian state, after Trump responded "no" when asked by Arutz Sheva whether the Saudis are expecting a Palestinian state as a condition for normalization with Israel.
The Saudi Seduction
The Saudis need our assistance with their sworn enemy Iran – and if Iran is successfully neutralized, how valuable does this treaty then remain for them? The answer is, not much, so why should we concede anything substantive in order to achieve it? Opinion.
Middle East leaders oppose Gaza displacement in letter to Rubio
Five Arab foreign ministers and senior PA official send letter to US Secretary of State, expressing opposition to any plans that would displace Palestinian Arabs from Gaza.
Saudi official:
'There will be no normalization without a Palestinian state'
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK: We are happy to engage in processes with anyone, but we do have some red lines, and for us to end the last 75 years of pain and suffering caused by one problem has to include a Palestinian state.
Middle East expert:
'Formal peace with Saudis in current situation will be damaging'
Dr. David Wurmser says as long as it is dependent on the Palestinian issue, it is better that Israel and the US not work to bring the Saudis into the Abraham Accords.
Syrian FM optimistic about stronger ties with Saudi Arabia
Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visits Saudi Arabia, the first foreign trip by Syria’s new leadership following their rise to power last month.
Saudi Arabia:
Execution toll hits record high despite promises of reform
Saudi Arabia executed 330 individuals this year, marking the highest annual total in decades, according to tally published by Reuters.
Blinken:
'Saudis even more convinced of the need for a Palestinian state'
US Secretary of State tells Foreign Affairs magazine that Hamas has been more productive on getting a ceasefire and hostage release deal done "because they’ve seen that the cavalry is not coming to the rescue."
PMO:
Report PM made commitment on Palestinian state 'absolutely false'
Prime Minister's Office denies report a breakthrough was reached in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia with declaration Israel is committed to a 'path toward a Palestinian state.'
Report:
Breakthrough in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia
According to the report, Crown Prince bin Salman shows no interest in recognizing a Palestinian state, but wants to appease public opinion in his country.
Gallant after meetings in US:
Hostage deal will lead to peace with Saudi Arabia
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that there is an opportunity to bring home the hostages, and connected it to peace with Saudi Arabia which would 'change the face of the Middle East.'
Saudi Arabia:
'Israel determined to sabotage Syria's security'
Saudi Arabia continues recent trend of criticism of Israel, this time denouncing IDF operations at the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
Saudi royal lashes out:
'Israel is genocidal and an apartheid state'
Prince Turki Al Faisal, who served as Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief, denounces the Jewish state as "genocidal" and an "apartheid" state, expresses hope that Netanyahu will face charges at the ICC.
New tally:
Record 101 foreigners executed in Saudi Arabia in 2024
Saudi Arabia has executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, according to an AFP tally, a figure which nearly triples the 34 foreign executions recorded in both 2023 and 2022.
In summit in Riyadh
Saudi Crown Prince accuses Israel of 'genocide'
As Arab and Muslim leaders convene in the Saudi capital, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demands that the global community "immediately halt the Israeli actions against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon."
Mahmoud Abbas:
Suspend Israel's membership in UN
Speaking to the Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called for Israel to be suspended from the UN and for international sanctions to be imposed on it
Iran-Saudi relations
Saudi Arabia's military chief visits Tehran
Saudi Arabia's military chief Fayyad al-Ruwaili visits Tehran, holds discussions with Iran's top military commander, General Mohammad Bagheri.
Report:
US, Saudi Arabia discussing agreement separate from Israel deal
Sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios that the US and Saudi Arabia are exploring a potential security agreement independent of a broader deal with Israel.
Saudi FM:
'Deals with US unrelated to Israel could go through'
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, says Riyadh could potentially act "quite quickly" on bilateral agreements with Washington, even if a comprehensive deal involving the recognition of Israel is not achieved.
Saudi FM:
'A genocide is happening in the Gaza Strip'
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, condemns the "complete blockade" of northern Gaza, reiterates that normalization is dependent on a Palestinian state.
Saudi spokesman:
'We participated in military exercises with Iran'
Saudi defense ministry spokesman confirms Saudi Arabia recently participated in military exercises with Iran and other nations in the Sea of Oman, but says no other exercises are planned at this time.
In first:
Iran and Saudi Arabia preparing for joint military exercises
Commander of Iran's navy says Iran and Saudi Arabia are preparing for joint military exercises in the Red Sea. The report has not yet been confirmed by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi channel suspended by Iraq for calling Hamas terrorists
MBC network's offices in Iraq stormed and ransacked by Shi'ite militia supporters angered by the network's description of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar as terrorists.
Saudi Arabia narrowly misses seat on UNHRC
Amid concerns over its human rights record, Saudi Arabia falls seven votes short in its bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. It was previously elected to the UNHRC in 2013.
Saudi report:
Substance painted on Nasrallah's hand facilitated tracking him
Saudi news channel Al Hadath reported that a man who came from Iran shook Nasrallah's hand and smeared it with a substance that Israel could track.
Saudi Crown Prince: I don't care about a two-state solution
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says he would be willing for Israel to conduct counterterror operations in Gaza following war. 'I don't personally care about the Palestinian issue, but my people do.'
Saudi Crown Prince:
'No normalization without a Palestinian state'
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says Saudi Arabia would not recognize Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, criticizes the "crimes of the Israeli occupation".
Director of AAPI:
'What is needed for for Saudi Arabi to be involved in Gaza?'
Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI): 'The Accords survived the war because of ties between the people, and not just the leaders. Saudi and UAE have 2 demands to be involved in Gaza.'
Iran’s Ayatollahs bully the US
The are doing that by destabilizing Saudi Arabia which is already frustrated by the US State Department's attitude towards Iran. Opinion.
Report:
Saudi Crown Prince fears being killed over Israel normalization
Mohammed bin Salman reportedly tells US lawmakers he fears being killed as Anwar Sadat was if he normalizes relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
State Department confirms:
US to resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia
The ban was imposed in 2021 amid concerns about the toll of the Saudi-led war against the Houthis in Yemen.
Biden to lift ban on sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia
Sources say Biden has decided to lift a ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a three-year-old policy, amid tensions in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabian official:
'Haniyeh elimination a blatant violation of Iran's sovereignty'
In first remarks by a Saudi official on Haniyeh elimination, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister says it was a "blatant violation" of Iran's sovereignty.
Report:
Efforts towards normalization with Saudi Arabia officially paused
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused efforts to achieve normalization deal with Saudi Arabia until after US elections, report says.
Houthi leader warns Saudis:
'Don't collaborate with the US, Israel and Britain'
In recently televised address, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddine Al-Houthi warned against Saudi Arabia’s “collaboration” with the United States, Israel, and Britain in implementing measures to close Sanaa’s banks, airport, and seaport.
US, Israeli officials:
'Saudi normalization not realistic until after US election'
American and Israeli officials familiar tell Ynet that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not a realistic possibility until after the US presidential elections in November.
Palestinian Arab vs. Saudi education - ignored by Foggy Bottom
Both the UAE and the Saudis have toned down their educational messages about Israel, while the PA has only made them worse. The State Dept doesn't seem to care. Op-ed.
UK Labour candidate:
'If we win the election, we will stop arms sales to Israel'
Fabian Hamilton, a candidate with Britain’s Labour Party, tells attendees at an event in a mosque that his party will stop arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia if it wins this week's election.
Mecca:
14 Jordanians dead, 17 missing at annual pilgrimage
According to the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, the pilgrims died as a result of heatstroke as temperatures in the Saudi city are expected to reach 116 F.
Report:
US, Saudi Arabia closing in on mutual defense deal
US and Saudi officials told WSJ that the deal is close to being finalized, but US approval may depend on it being tied to Israel-Saudi normalization, for which Saudis demand Israeli commitment to a Palestinian state.
Senator Graham to Arutz Sheva:
'I want to wake America up, we have no better friend than Israel'
Senator Lindsey Graham receives Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Prize: 'Everybody wants to kill all the Jews, so now's the time for people in the US to circle the wagons. Speak up, speak out. We're next.'
US official:
'Deal between US and Saudi Arabia is pretty much there'
Senior US official says the US and Saudi Arabia have a “near final set” of bilateral agreements in place, but a broader deal with Israel is not close yet.
US national security adviser:
'Saudi defense pact not possible without Israel deal'
National security adviser Jake Sullivan says defense agreement with Saudi Arabia goes hand-in-hand with the kingdom and Israel normalizing ties: You can’t disentangle one piece from the others.
Normalization with Saudi Arabia
Deal to include five-year 'pathway' to Palestinian state
US, Saudi Arabia, may sign deal on condition that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel the moment Israel's government is willing to agree to a Palestinian state along the 1948 borders.
State Department:
'We're close to agreement on security pact with Saudis'
US officials say Biden administration and Saudi Arabia are finalizing agreement for US security guarantees which would be part of broader agreement which includes Israeli-Saudi normalization.
Saudi Arabia takes action against Israel defamers online
Saudi Arabia has launched a wave of arrests of citizens who attacked Israel and identified with Hamas on social networks amid the Gaza war.
Report
Saudis warned Israel: Rafah op will harm chances of normalization
A source in the Saudi royal family said that Israel must make sacrifices for peace to create a regional alliance with the Arab nations and that there will be no normalization without a Palestinian state.
Blinken:
Hamas has to decide quickly on 'very generous' deal
US Secretary of State says a lot of progress has been made towards normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, presses for hostage deal at World Economic Forum in Riyadh
