‘Saudi Arabia Prefers To Deal With the US Directly, Without Bringing Israel Into Everything,’ Expert Tells TML
As President Trump arrives in Riyadh, the kingdom advances a strategy of balancing global powers on its own terms
As US President Donald Trump lands in Riyadh on Tuesday, quiet anticipation is building around a series of high-level meetings that could shape the future of US-Saudi relations and shift the broader political and economic landscape of the region.
Though the trip centers on trade, defense, and energy cooperation, it carries deeper political implications. More than just another bilateral visit, it signals Saudi Arabia’s intent to recalibrate its global position, seeking greater autonomy while maintaining key alliances, including with the US. In an increasingly multipolar world, Riyadh is balancing ties with Washington, expanding relations with China, and asserting itself as a regional diplomatic force.
“This isn’t about backing Trump politically,” Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Riyadh-based political analyst, told The Media Line. “It’s a continuation of a long-standing relationship. It shows that Saudi Arabia keeps its doors open to all key players in Washington, no matter which party is in power.”
President Trump’s visit, the first stop on a Gulf tour that includes the UAE and Qatar, reflects a broader push to bolster American business interests and renew political ties across the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
“There’s an effort to re-anchor US influence through the economy—especially now that Gulf states are working with more partners globally,” Alshaabani added. “The US doesn’t want to lose space to China, but it understands it must compete with trade, technology, and investment if it wants to stay relevant.”
Several American business deals were already in progress before the summit, including new licenses for US brands in Saudi Arabia’s growing retail, food, and entertainment sectors. Major companies like Walmart, Starbucks, and Disney are either expanding or beginning talks in the kingdom, encouraged by Vision 2030 reforms.
New defense and technology agreements were also signed in advance. One key deal involves cooperation between Saudi cybersecurity authorities and US firms focused on protecting critical infrastructure.
A major event during President Trump’s visit is a closed-door roundtable between senior US and Saudi business leaders. While the official list remains undisclosed, insiders say companies such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Chevron, Aramco, Oracle, IBM, and NEOM’s AI division will participate.
“There’s a clear focus on sectors with high impact,” said Alshaabani. “It’s not just about oil anymore. Saudi leaders are mostly interested in tourism, smart cities, cybersecurity—areas that matter a lot for their future beyond oil and fit into Vision 2030.”
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It’s not just about oil anymore
While energy remains a topic—especially around clean energy and refining—Saudi leaders aim to emphasize economic diversification and long-term partnerships.
It’s ‘Saudi first’ and ‘America first’—which means business comes first
“This is business-first diplomacy,” said Dr. Aziz Alghashian, Nonresident Fellow at AGIS. “It’s ‘Saudi first’ and ‘America first’—which means business comes first. That’s the logic behind this relationship now.”
Diplomacy is also unfolding more discreetly. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa are all expected in Riyadh during Trump’s visit. Analysts describe this as “coordination through presence,” not formal summits.
Their presence reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in mediating regional conflicts. “For MBS, it’s about using Trump’s visit to talk about files like Syria and Lebanon—but there also has to be something in it for Trump, economically speaking,” said Alghashian.
Some speculation has surfaced about a possible Saudi-Israeli normalization deal, but experts say it’s unlikely for now. Though Israeli officials remain optimistic, Saudi insiders say the timing isn’t right and that normalization depends on broader regional factors.
“The whole normalization talk is still unclear,” said Alghashian. “People often assume it’s tied directly to US involvement, but from Saudi Arabia’s point of view, it’s not something they want to include in every conversation. They prefer to deal with the US directly, without bringing Israel into everything.”
He added, “It’s a mistake to believe the narrative Netanyahu is pushing—that Trump can deliver normalization.”
Meanwhile, US diplomats are quietly holding talks with Iran in Oman. Still, analysts caution against connecting these discussions with the US president’s Riyadh visit.
“We shouldn’t mix the two things,” said Alshaabani. “The Saudi-Iran discussions are focused on regional security and improving ties. The nuclear issue is strictly between Washington and Tehran. Any connection between these tracks is coincidental, not planned.”
China, a major Saudi economic partner, is watching the meetings closely. Chinese firms have expanded their presence in Saudi infrastructure, energy, digital, and port sectors, particularly since Beijing brokered the Saudi-Iran agreement last year.
Still, analysts say Beijing isn’t alarmed by the US visit. “China sees that Saudi foreign policy is becoming more independent,” said Alshaabani. “Beijing doesn’t view US moves as a zero-sum game. In fact, it respects Riyadh’s ability to engage different global powers at the same time. That’s how the multipolar world works—and Saudi Arabia is playing that game well.”
Ultimately, the visit is less about dramatic headlines and more about recalibrating ties in a shifting global order. “Meeting with Trump now isn’t about short-term politics,” Alghashian said. “It’s about keeping a foot in Washington no matter who wins the next election—and making sure Saudi Arabia stays important to the US.”
Saudi Arabia isn’t picking sides—it’s picking leverage
“Saudi Arabia isn’t picking sides,” Alshaabani added. “It’s picking leverage. And in today’s world, that means hosting Trump, hosting the Chinese, and doing it all on Saudi terms.”
