Moments before his arrival, several American warplanes flew over the complex, while an honor guard and cannon fire completed the ceremony on the South Lawn.
Bin Salman is seeking to restore his international reputation while strengthening relations with the US, especially after the global controversies that have followed him in recent years. Trump’s reception was lavish — just the sort of thing a Saudi leader might want as he promotes the ambitious “Vision 2030” development agenda.
The Trump family has strong business ties in Saudi Arabia. The Dar Global company, which operates in the kingdom with the support of the government and close cooperation with MBS, announced the opening of Trump Plaza in Jeddah this year, while the Trump Tower construction project was also launched earlier. In either case, the Trump Organization will not invest capital, but will earn millions through licenses.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been a key partner for Trump’s golf business. After the attack on the Capitol in 2021 and the loss of numerous contracts in the US, the LIV Golf League – financed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund – continued to hold competitions precisely on Trump’s courses, which generated significant income for his complexes.
Bin Salman’s visit to Washington thus had both a political and a business dimension, while American-Saudi ties are deepening despite numerous criticisms and controversies from the past.
(Vijesti.ba)
