PCV notes that by making his first official foreign trip to Saudi Arabia, President Trump clearly shows his priority for partner in the Arab world. Saudi Arabia has made a concerted effort to establish a positive relationship with the inner circle of the administration after disillusionment with President Obama, a strategy that has come through in spades.
May 17, 2017
‘When President Trump arrives in Riyadh this week, he will lay out his vision for a new regional security architecture White House officials call an “Arab NATO,” to guide the fight against terrorism and push back against Iran. As a cornerstone of the plan, Trump will also announce one of the largest arms-sales deals in history.
Behind the scenes, the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have been conducting extensive negotiations, led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions began shortly after the presidential election, when Mohammed, known in Washington as “MBS,” sent a delegation to meet with Kushner and other Trump officials at Trump Tower.’