In Riyadh, US president focuses on business, shifting from Biden’s policy that prioritised Saudi Arabian-Israeli ties.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Trump called on Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel during a speech to the oil-rich kingdom’s leaders on Tuesday — saying “you’ll be greatly honoring me” by doing so. Trump frequently referred to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name during his speech as the country’s de facto ruler watched from the front row.

The United States agreed on Tuesday to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it "the largest defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are in talks over Riyadh's potential purchase of Lockheed's F-35 jets. The deal may face hurdles due to U.S. commitments to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge. Approval could make Saudi Arabia only the second Middle Eastern country,

Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt predicted it is likely Saudi Arabia will work with Israel in the near future, though he suggested such efforts would not take place until peace is achieved in the Gaza Strip.

The United States is no longer demanding Saudi Arabia normalise ties with Israel as a condition for progress on civil nuclear cooperation talks, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters ahead of U.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday secured a US$600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and vowed to lift sanctions on Syria.