U.S. approves $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia ahead of Trump’s Gulf summit
The United States has approved a $3.5 billion sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia, just days before President Donald Trump embarks on his first major foreign trip — a tour that includes a high-stakes summit with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh.
Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16, with a centerpiece meeting in the Saudi capital where he will sit down with the heads of the six GCC member states — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
“Trump will meet the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh”, the source said.
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According to a source close to the Saudi government who spoke to AFP, the summit will focus on strengthening “political and economic cooperation”, between Washington and its Gulf allies. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, said Trump will push for deeper cooperation on regional security, trade, and diplomacy.
The missile sale signals a renewed U.S. commitment to its strategic partnerships in the region. It also sets the tone for the upcoming meetings, which will be closely watched for any announcements related to defense cooperation or regional alliances.
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Trump, who has touted lucrative defense and energy deals with Saudi Arabia in the past, is also expected to use the visit to promote U.S. business interests and rally support for his administration’s tough stance on Iran. Tensions with Tehran remain high, particularly after indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks were delayed over the weekend.
In recent statements, Trump reiterated his hardline approach, vowing to enforce existing sanctions and urging global partners to halt purchases of Iranian oil and petrochemicals. The U.S. president has also floated the idea of negotiating a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 accord he unilaterally withdrew from in 2018 — a move that continues to shape regional dynamics.
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Another potential talking point during the Riyadh meetings is the prospect of a normalisation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Trump, who brokered the Abraham Accords during his first term, has expressed optimism about expanding Arab-Israeli ties. However, Riyadh has maintained that no such agreement is possible until a ceasefire is reached and progress is made toward ending the war in Gaza.
The Gulf tour marks Trump’s second foreign trip of his current term, following a brief visit to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.
