Context:

President Trump announced $600 billion in deals with Saudi Arabia, but the detailed agreements provided by the White House amounted to less than half of this figure, with many projects already underway before his presidency. The largest agreement is a $142 billion defense deal for advanced warfighting equipment, accompanied by a $20 billion investment from DataVolt in AI data centers and American infrastructure. During the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump criticized former President Biden and Iran, while lifting sanctions on Syria and encouraging Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords. The White House reported 145 deals worth over $300 billion, including collaborations on space, defense, and conservation projects, though the kingdom's capacity for further investment was questioned. Trump aimed to secure over $1 trillion in pledges during his trip, despite previous investment figures from his first term not fully materializing according to economic analyses.

Dive Deeper:

• The White House declared that President Trump secured $600 billion in deals with Saudi Arabia, although provided specifics amounted to around $283 billion, with some projects predating his administration. The announcement was made amid a business forum in Riyadh, where Trump emphasized the United States' economic status.

• Key agreements include a $142 billion defense sales deal, the largest of its kind, providing Saudi Arabia with cutting-edge military equipment, alongside a $20 billion commitment from the Saudi company DataVolt to invest in American AI data centers and infrastructure.

• President Trump, during his speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, criticized the Biden administration's efforts in the region, condemned Iran's role in Middle Eastern instability, and proposed lifting Syrian sanctions to aid reconstruction, while also addressing the contentious issue of Saudi-Israeli relations.

• The forum highlighted 145 deals totaling over $300 billion, with notable agreements in defense, space exploration, and conservation, such as a NASA-Saudi Space Agency partnership and a Smithsonian exhibit for Arabian leopards, yet questions remained about Saudi Arabia's financial capacity for further U.S. investments.

• Despite ambitious goals to secure over $1 trillion during his Middle Eastern tour, Trump's previous claims of $450 billion in investments during his first term didn't fully actualize, as analyzed by economic experts, who noted a lower total of American exports to Saudi Arabia compared to Obama's second term.