Trump Urges Saudi Arabia to Join Abraham Accords ‘In Your Time’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ At a Saudi–U.S. investment forum in Riyadh, President Donald Trump publicly encouraged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, while emphasizing that the kingdom would normalize relations “in your own time.” He balanced his call for peace with Iran by warning Tehran it must choose a “new path” or face maximum pressure. Trump also praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment in the U.S., and previewed potential sanctions relief for Syria.
Saudi–Israel Normalization Quick Looks
- Trump calls for Saudi Arabia to join Abraham Accords
- “It will be a special day…when Saudi Arabia joins us,” he said
- Emphasized Riyadh will normalize “in your own time”
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looked on approvingly
- Saudi demands include clear path to Palestinian statehood
Middle East Diplomacy & Deals Quick Looks
- Trump urges Iran toward “a new and a better path”
- Warns Tehran it “will never have a nuclear weapon” if talks fail
- Announces $600 billion Saudi investment in U.S. economy
- Considers lifting Syria sanctions after Assad’s overthrow
- Signed over a dozen U.S.–Saudi bilateral cooperation agreements
- Saudi F-15s provided a rare fighter-jet escort for Air Force One
- Trump skips an Israel stop, fueling controversy with Netanyahu
- Investment forum attended by Elon Musk, Stephen Schwarzman, Larry Fink
- Next stops: Qatar and United Arab Emirates for similar deals
- U.S. halts airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis, surprising Israel
Deep Look: Trump’s Riyadh Speech on Abraham Accords, Iran, and Regional Strategy
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In a landmark address at the Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum on Tuesday, President Donald Trump publicly pressed Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords — the Middle East normalization framework he brokered during his first term — while deftly affirming Riyadh’s right to proceed “in your own time.” Against a backdrop of glittering chandeliers and international business titans, Trump balanced calls for broader peace with firm warnings to regional adversaries.
Pressing Saudi Arabia on Israel Ties
Standing beside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump lauded Saudi Arabia’s sweeping economic and social reforms, then declared,
“Saudi Arabia…will soon be joining the Abraham Accords. I think it will be a tremendous tribute to your country, and will be something that’s really very important for the future of the Middle East.” He added, “It will be a special day…with the whole world watching, when Saudi Arabia joins us. You’ll be greatly honoring me…and all those people that have fought so hard for the Middle East. But you’ll do it in your own time.”
The kingdom has consistently tied normalization to progress on Palestinian statehood and a lasting Gaza ceasefire, preconditions that were upended by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Saudi officials have reiterated that recognition hinges on a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. While Trump’s remarks ratchet up the diplomatic pressure, they also acknowledged Riyadh’s cautious calculus.
Iran: “A Time to Choose”
Pivoting to Iran, Trump framed the negotiations his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has led as a decisive fork in the road.
“This is an offer that will not last forever,” he warned. “The time is right now for them to choose…If Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive, maximum pressure…and take all action required to stop the regime from ever having a nuclear weapon. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”
He underscored his preference for diplomacy:
“I want to make a deal with Iran. I can make a deal with Iran. I’ll be very happy if we’re going to make your region and the world a safer place.” But he also invoked the “Gulf of Iran” naming controversy, deriding any Iranian attempt to rename the body of water and praising the Arabian Gulf nomenclature.
Economic and Strategic Deals
Trump’s visit opened with unprecedented pageantry: Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s escorted Air Force One into Riyadh’s airspace, and Crown Prince Mohammed greeted Trump at King Khalid International Airport with traditional Arabic coffee served by ceremonial attendants. Their early meetings produced more than a dozen bilateral agreements spanning defense, justice, culture, and technology.
Most notably, Riyadh pledged a record $600 billion in new investments in the United States, spanning infrastructure, energy, and high-tech sectors.
Trump quipped that while $600 billion was “incredible,” “$1 trillion would be even better.” The forum drew luminaries like Elon Musk, Stephen Schwarzman, and Larry Fink, signaling deep financial and strategic ties.
Syria Sanctions and Regional Balance
In a further diplomatic overture, the White House announced Trump would meet Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December 2024. Trump said he was considering lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria to give the new government “a fresh start,” echoing Turkish pressure from President Erdogan. This signals a potential U.S. shift in Syria policy amid concerns over Iran’s influence.
Trump says will remove Syria sanctions
The biggest news from Trump’s speech was his announcement that the U.S. will remove all sanctions on Syria. Here’s some quotes from Trump on the topic:
“Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump said, to laughs. “The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important, really an important function nevertheless, at the time. But now it’s their time to shine. It’s their time to shine.”
“So I say, good luck, Syria, show us something very special like they’ve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia, okay? They’re going to show us something special.”
“Together, we have made unprecedented strides and tremendous progress, and we’re still just at the dawn of the bright new day that awaits for the people of the Middle East, the great, great people of the Middle East.”
Skipping Israel and Gulf Security
Trump’s decision to bypass an Israel stop raised eyebrows in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized being kept out of the loop on a truce with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, saying,
“Israel will defend itself by itself.” Trump’s independent negotiations with Hamas and the Houthis have strained the historically close U.S.–Israel partnership.
Next Stops: Qatar and the UAE
Following Saudi Arabia, Trump’s itinerary includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — nations where the Trump Organization has major real estate developments. He is expected to unveil AI partnerships, expanded energy cooperation, and additional arms deals, including a previously announced $3.5 billion missile package for Saudi fighter jets.
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