World

Trump praises Gulf countries’ ‘progress, unity, friendship’ at the GCC summit

May 14, 2025
US President Donald Trump joins Gulf leaders as the summit of the United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members kicks off in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The summit comes as the US has been holding nuclear talks with Iran.

Trump met with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh

May 14, 2025  
US President Donald Trump has met Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.

On Tuesday, Trump announced he's lifting sanctions on Syria.

He made the announcement in Saudi Arabia, during the first day of his three-country tour of the Gulf.

Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria has sparked celebrations across the country.

The government has called it a “pivotal turning point for the Syrian people”.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hashem Ahelbarra has confirmed that Trump and Syria’s al-Sharaa have held a brief meeting, ahead of Trump’s gathering with GCC leaders.

Trump lifting sanctions on Syria is major boost for al-Sharaa: Analysis

May 14, 2025  
US President Trump received a lavish welcome in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the first day of his visit to the Middle East. The two countries signed a $142bn defence sales agreement as part of a Saudi Arabian commitment to invest $600bn in the United States.

Speaking at an investment forum in the capital, Riyadh, Trump announced that US sanctions on Syria will be removed, and said that it was time for the country to “move forward”.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said the removal of US sanctions marked a “new start” for the reconstruction of his country.

Trump’s four-day visit to the Gulf region continues on Wednesday, with a trip to Qatar before he travels to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Al Jazeera's diplomatic editor James Bays has more.

Saudi-US arms deal sealed as Trump visit draws positive reactions
 
May 14, 2025
Saudi Arabia has finalized a major arms deal with the United States. Al Jazeera’s White House Correspondent Kimberly Halkett reports from Riyadh. Meanwhile, former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan says President Trump’s visit to Riyadh is being received positively in the United States. Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan brings us reactions from Damascus following the lifting of sanctions.

Trump in the Gulf: US to lift sanctions on Syria, vows to counter Iran

May 14, 2025
On the first stop of a three-day visit to the Gulf, US President Donald Trump addressed the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh with major foreign policy announcements. He declared that American sanctions on the new Syrian government will be lifted — signaling a major shift in US policy. Trump also emphasized the need to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program, calling for stronger regional partnerships.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra reports from Riyadh.

US and Saudi Arabia agree to $142bn weapons sale during Trump visit

May 13, 2025  
US President Donald Trump has received a royal welcome after arriving in Saudi Arabia, his first stop of a three-day tour that will also see him visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sign an economic partnership agreement, as two countries announce cooperation in energy, mining and defence, among others.

The Trump administration says that Saudi Arabia will invest $600bn in the United States, including through technology partnerships and a weapons sales agreement worth $142bn.

A fact sheet shared by the White House on Tuesday explains that the agreement, which also includes collaboration in areas such as energy and mineral development, is the largest-ever weapons sale between the two countries.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reports from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. 

US, Saudi Arabia could reach deal on ‘nuclear question’: Analyst

May 13, 2025
US President Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia, kicking off his three-country tour of the Middle East.

Economic deals are expected to be the focus of his visit.
 
Trump says he wants a trillion dollars' worth of investment from the kingdom.

Abdulaziz al-Ghashian is Senior Non-Resident Fellow at Gulf International Forum and Specialist on Saudi Arabia's Foreign policy and Gulf-Israel relations.

For Trump, Middle East visit can only be a ‘win-win’: Analysis

May 13, 2025  
US President Donald Trump has landed in Saudi Arabia on the first stop in a three-country tour of the Middle East.
 
The state visit is Trump's first since he returned to office.
 
Investments and economic deals are the focus of this trip.
 
Trump says he wants a trillion dollars' worth of investment from the kingdom.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman greeted Trump at the airport.

Saudi Arabia was also the first country Trump visited during his first term in office.

James Bays is Al Jazeera's diplomatic editor and Sultan Barakat is a Professor of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

US President Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, meets MBS
 
May 13, 2025  
US President Donald Trump’s plane has touched down in Riyadh on first stop in three-country trip.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has welcomed Trump at the tarmac of the airport in Riyadh.

Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett and Hashem Ahelbarra is monitoring developments in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PKK to disband, potentially ending decades of conflict in Turkiye

May 13, 2025  
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has announced that it plans to disband and disarm, potentially bringing decades of conflict with Turkiye to an end.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the move on Monday for “peace and fraternity” in Turkiye.

The decision was announced days after the group held a congress in northern Iraq.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford reports.