Trump Arrives in Saudi Arabia Seeking $1 Trillion Deal as Gaza War Blocks Israel Normalization
U.S. pushes quiet pressure on Netanyahu for Gaza ceasefire while Riyadh separates economic ties from stalled normalization talks with Israel.
Watan-U.S. President Donald Trump will arrive in Riyadh on Tuesday, where grand ceremonies and talks of $1 trillion in investments await. However, the ongoing war in Gaza has blocked his long-desired goal: normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
According to two Gulf sources and one U.S. official, quiet American pressure is being applied on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a Gaza ceasefire—one of Saudi Arabia’s key conditions to resume normalization talks.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, told attendees at the Israeli embassy in Washington that progress on expanding the Abraham Accords is expected soon. Witkoff, who will accompany Trump, said in a video: “We hope to have many announcements in the coming year.”
Gaza War Derails Normalization as Trump Shifts Focus to Saudi Investment Deals
Six sources, including U.S. and Saudi officials, confirmed that normalization talks have been effectively decoupled from economic and security cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.
Former U.S. peace envoy Dennis Ross noted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requires the Gaza war to end and a credible path to Palestinian statehood before returning to normalization efforts.
Trump’s visit is now expected to focus heavily on economic deals and regional issues, including massive investment opportunities, arms agreements, and cooperation in AI. Trump seeks to secure up to $1 trillion in Saudi investments over the next four years, following Riyadh’s pledge of $600 billion.
The Saudis, aware of diplomatic protocols, are aiming to impress the U.S. president while seeking potential concessions on Gaza.
Before Hamas launched its October 7 “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered Israel’s devastating response in Gaza, Prince Mohammed was close to a historic U.S. defense pact in exchange for recognizing Israel.
But with over 52,000 Palestinians killed and 1.9 million displaced, Riyadh froze talks and accused Israel of genocide. Now, Trump may unveil a framework for ending the war, including a transitional government and post-war Gaza security arrangements.
Trump Courts Gulf Allies Amid Rising Chinese Influence and Shifting Saudi Priorities
Although Trump has not included Israel in this trip, he did meet Israeli Minister Ron Dermer privately to discuss Gaza and Iran. Notably, Trump has recently distanced himself from his controversial “Gaza Riviera” plan to forcibly resettle Palestinians.
Positive gestures toward Saudi Arabia include pausing U.S. strikes on Yemen’s Houthis and separating nuclear cooperation from normalization conditions. Trump has revived a scaled-back version of a Saudi defense pact, now being renegotiated alongside a civilian nuclear deal.
Trump’s Gulf tour, his second foreign trip since reelection, includes Qatar and the UAE. Diplomats say this effort seeks to reassert American influence in a region where China’s presence is rapidly growing.
Saudi Arabia remains a core U.S. partner but increasingly aligns with Beijing under its Vision 2030 plan. Meanwhile, Gulf ministers are expected to urge Trump to ease U.S. regulatory restrictions seen as limiting foreign investment—especially in critical infrastructure sectors.
