Trump gets warm welcome in Saudi Arabia, signs arms deal

World Today

U.S. President Donald Trump received a warm welcome in Saudi Arabia. On the first day of his first foreign trip as President, he even received a special honor from the Saudi King.

CGTN’s Adel El Mahrouky tells us more about Trump’s day one in Riyadh.

Air Force One touched down at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking Donald Trump’s first overseas trip as President. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz personally welcomed the U.S. president at the airport.

Trump is getting a full Gulf-style culture experience: drinking Arabian coffee, staying in one of the most luxurious royal palaces in the capital, and receiving the highest honorary order of the Kingdom.

“This guest is special to the Kingdom and has dear value to Saudi Arabia. Trump’s welcome is definitely exceptional, and what makes it more special is the presence of 37 leaders of nations and 10-to-12 representatives of other countries,” political analyst Abdul Aziz Al Mohanna said.

On Sunday, Trump is expected to address the Islamic Summit with a speech about Islam. As a candidate he’s been critical of Islam. Officials warned that a continuation of his sharp tone against the religion would not help in fighting terrorism.

“When people judge all Muslims based on some terrorist acts, they are standing in another extremist position. That leads to Islamophobia, which is the other face of the extremism coin and it fuels terrorists’ ideologies,” Mohammed Al Issa, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League said.

The Kingdom announced that it’ll launch the biggest joint project among Muslim countries to fight extremist ideologies through its moderate scholars. A step many Muslim leaders believe is key to ending the recruitment process of militant groups.

“It’s impossible to completely defeat extremism and terrorism unless we eradicate its ideology,” says Al Issa.

Beside politics, all eyes are on the business deals between the two countries. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed economic deals worth more than $200 billion. The two countries also made defense agreements, signing a military sales deal of about $110 billion.

The Saudis are very happy that Trump chose them for his first stop. They are very keen to show the U.S. President that it was worth it.