Trump reveals which countries he plans to visit in Middle East
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has confirmed his intention to visit Saudi Arabia. However, the trip will not be limited to just one country, according to CNN.
Trump told reporters that he is most likely to visit three countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the plans go beyond the Middle East. The first foreign visit of the US president could take place as early as April.
“It could be next month, maybe a little bit later,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday, March 31. “We’re going to Qatar also, and also we’re going to possibly a couple of other countries. UAE is very important. But in the Middle East, it looks like these three."
Why Trump wants to visit Saudi Arabia
Axios published a report yesterday indicating that the White House is considering a trip for Trump to Saudi Arabia. The official plan has not been approved yet, but it is expected to take place in May. The Saudis themselves would prefer that the US president visit after a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine.
The upcoming trip will mark Trump's first foreign visit as president after his return to the White House. During his first term, Saudi Arabia was the first country he visited, and Trump recently explained why he made that choice.
“Last time I went to Saudi Arabia, I put it first on the list because they agreed to buy $450 billion worth of American goods, military and otherwise,” Trump said. “I agreed to do it again, but — and they’ve agreed to spend close to a trillion dollars of money in our American companies, which to me, means jobs.”
