According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump will go to the Middle East for a high-profile diplomatic tour from May 13 to 16. The official itinerary includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, his second international trip since taking office. This journey comes after his planned presence at Pope Francis’ burial in Vatican City on Saturday.
The Saudi foreign minister visited Washington earlier this month to prepare for Trump’s arrival. The decision highlights efforts to strengthen ties, similar to Trump’s 2017 visit, when Saudi Arabia was his first international destination. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently restated intentions for a trade and investment deal worth $600 billion with the United States.
Meanwhile, Washington continues to pursue nuclear talks with Iran while remaining solid in its military preparations. Trump also called with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm their strategic partnership.
Although there has been persistent speculation in the media over the possibility of a visit to Turkey, the White House has maintained its noncommittal stance, and its most recent statement did not make any reference to the country.
