Will Trump's peace-through-prosperity blueprint for the region work?

Mega deals inked

Following talks between the two leaders, Trump announced a wide-ranging trade deal between the two countries, which he claimed would result in Saudi Arabia investing $600bn in the US, including through technology partnerships and a weapons sales agreement worth $142bn. The crown prince estimated the trade ties between the two countries could ultimately be worth as much as $1tn.

"I really believe we like each other a lot," Mr Trump said during a brief appearance with the crown prince at the start of their meeting.

A fact sheet later presented by the White House stated that the agreement included collaboration between the two countries in areas such as energy and mineral development, while the arms deal represented the largest-ever weapons sale between the two countries.

The size of the deals agreed between the two leaders meant that some of America's most prominent business leaders accompanied Trump on his visit, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and Sam Altman, the chief executive of Openai. Musk, who has taken a step back from the administration, said the kingdom had approved Starlink for maritime and aviation use in the Gulf state.

By far the most important part of the deal, though, was the agreement to modernise the Saudi military with "state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defence firms", according to the White House fact sheet.

"The deals celebrated today are historic and transformative for both countries and represent a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia," it read.

In addition, the agreement sets out plans for Saudi Arabia to invest $20bn in energy infrastructure and data centres for artificial intelligence in the US. In remarks made to the US-Saudi investment forum, Trump said the US had "no stronger partner" than Saudi Arabia, and that the relationship between the two countries was "more powerful than before."

Read more: US, Saudi Arabia enter 'golden era' in defence, AI partnership

Formula for peace

Trump's trade mission to the Middle East, where he also visited Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, was aimed at promoting his argument that agreeing to deals on commerce and economic development was the best way to overcome violence and division in the region.

In this context, Trump said he was still keen to make a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme, although he warned Tehran that the offer he had made to open negotiations "will not last forever".

"We really want them to be a successful country. We want them to be a wonderful, safe, great country," Trump declared in his speech to the forum. "But they cannot have a nuclear weapon."

Trump's willingness to pursue a peace agenda in the Middle East was also reflected in his decision to meet with Syria's new ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, despite his "strong past" as the US described to his reporters, referring to his time leading Al Nusra Front, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda. Announcing his intention to lift all sanctions against Syria, Trump said it was now time for the country to move forward after 14 years of civil war with "a chance at greatness".

The US, together with other Western nations, imposed sanctions against Syria at the start of the civil war in 2011 in protest at the brutal tactics employed by former dictator Bashar al-Assad, who is now living in exile in Russia.

Trump's willingness to meet with al-Sharaa, who was previously subjected to a $10mn US bounty over his alleged ties with Islamist militants, certainly represents a bold attempt by the Trump administration to help stabilise the country after more than a decade of brutal conflict. It is a move that, if successful, could have broader implications for the future peace and stability of the wider Middle East.