Thu Jan 23 06:26:51 UTC 2025: ## Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Discuss $600 Billion US Investment
**Dubai, January 23, 2025** – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years during a phone call with former President Donald Trump. The announcement follows Trump’s suggestion that he might return to Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip as president, mirroring his 2017 visit which broke with tradition by bypassing the UK.
The Saudi Press Agency reported the Crown Prince’s commitment to expanding investment and trade with the US. While specifics regarding investment areas remain undisclosed, the close historical US-Saudi defense relationship, and Saudi Arabia’s significant holdings in American businesses and sports, point to possible targets. The White House has yet to release a statement regarding the call.
Trump’s comments suggesting a return trip to Saudi Arabia were contingent upon substantial new investment deals, referencing his 2017 trip where $450 billion in purchases were agreed upon. This visit, however, triggered a years-long boycott of Qatar by several Arab nations.
This substantial investment pledge comes at a time when Saudi Arabia faces budgetary challenges due to depressed global oil prices and ambitious projects like the $500 billion NEOM city and preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The US, meanwhile, has reduced its reliance on Saudi oil in recent years. The relationship between the two countries remains complex, given past controversies such as the Khashoggi assassination.
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