Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Saudi Arabia’s leadership after the White House unveiled a sweeping $600 billion investment commitment from the kingdom into the United States. The announcement came during Trump’s appearance at a high-profile investment forum in Riyadh, where he also revealed a controversial decision to lift all U.S. sanctions on Syria, stating it was “to give them a chance at greatness.”

The centerpiece of the new agreements is a $142 billion defense deal, under which Saudi Arabia will acquire cutting-edge military technology and services from more than a dozen American defense firms. The deal, nearly double Saudi Arabia’s current annual defense budget of $78 billion, underscores Washington’s intent to deepen strategic ties with Riyadh, though a specific timeline for the completion of the deal has yet to be disclosed.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, speaking ahead of Trump at the conference, outlined plans to boost total U.S.-Saudi cooperation to $1 trillion, spanning defense, security, technology, and economic ventures. Analysts, however, warn of significant hurdles. The kingdom is already grappling with fiscal strain as it funds massive Vision 2030 projects amid fluctuating oil revenues and widening deficits.

The White House also spotlighted a $20 billion AI investment plan by Saudi tech firm DataVolt to develop data centers across the United States. Additionally, a broader $80 billion joint investment pledge from DataVolt, Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber will see funds directed toward digital infrastructure and innovation in both countries.

The flurry of announcements signals renewed economic engagement between Washington and Riyadh, though questions remain about the feasibility and timing of such massive financial commitments, particularly as both nations navigate shifting global economic landscapes.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Saudi Arabia’s leadership after the White House unveiled a sweeping $600 billion investment commitment from the kingdom into the United States. The announcement came during Trump’s appearance at a high-profile investment forum in Riyadh, where he also revealed a controversial decision to lift all U.S. sanctions on Syria, stating it was “to give them a chance at greatness.”

The centerpiece of the new agreements is a $142 billion defense deal, under which Saudi Arabia will acquire cutting-edge military technology and services from more than a dozen American defense firms. The deal, nearly double Saudi Arabia’s current annual defense budget of $78 billion, underscores Washington’s intent to deepen strategic ties with Riyadh, though a specific timeline for the completion of the deal has yet to be disclosed.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, speaking ahead of Trump at the conference, outlined plans to boost total U.S.-Saudi cooperation to $1 trillion, spanning defense, security, technology, and economic ventures. Analysts, however, warn of significant hurdles. The kingdom is already grappling with fiscal strain as it funds massive Vision 2030 projects amid fluctuating oil revenues and widening deficits.

The White House also spotlighted a $20 billion AI investment plan by Saudi tech firm DataVolt to develop data centers across the United States. Additionally, a broader $80 billion joint investment pledge from DataVolt, Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber will see funds directed toward digital infrastructure and innovation in both countries.

The flurry of announcements signals renewed economic engagement between Washington and Riyadh, though questions remain about the feasibility and timing of such massive financial commitments, particularly as both nations navigate shifting global economic landscapes.