U.S. President Donald Trump signed a landmark economic agreement with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, launching a multi-billion-dollar investment partnership during his Gulf tour.

The White House hailed the deal, which includes a record-breaking $142 billion arms sale, as one of the most comprehensive economic accords in U.S.-Saudi history, projecting over $600 billion in Saudi investments into the United States.

The agreement, tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify its oil-dependent economy, spans technology, defense, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and healthcare. Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih emphasized the partnership’s potential, stating, “When Saudis and Americans work together, great things happen.” Trump, meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called a “friend,” reaffirmed strong bilateral ties, according to the Wall Street Journal.

A high-profile Saudi-U.S. investment forum featured financial giants like BlackRock’s Larry Fink and Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, alongside tech leaders like Elon Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Major deals include an $80 billion joint investment by Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, Uber, and Saudi’s DataVolt in AI data centers and energy infrastructure. U.S. firms like Boeing, GE Vernova, and engineering companies such as Jacobs and AECOM secured contracts worth billions, while new funds will channel $14 billion into U.S. aerospace, defense, energy, and sports sectors.

The defense deal, the largest in U.S.-Saudi history, equips Saudi Arabia with advanced air force, missile defense, maritime, border security, and communication systems, alongside training programs. Energy and mining cooperation also expanded through new agreements between the U.S. Department of Energy and Saudi ministries.

However, Trump’s visit drew scrutiny for his unwavering support for Israel amid the ongoing Gaza war, which critics, including human rights groups, have labeled a genocide. Trump has defended Israel’s military aggression, dismissing calls for a ceasefire and arguing that Israel faces existential threats. This stance has sparked protests and condemnation from activists who accuse the U.S. of complicity in the humanitarian crisis, casting a shadow over the economic achievements of his Saudi trip.

The agreements signal a deepening U.S.-Saudi partnership, but Trump’s Gaza policy remains a contentious issue as he navigates his Gulf tour. (ILKHA)