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TRUMP SIGNS HISTORIC $600 BILLION ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA

US President Donald Trump signed a strategic economic partnership document with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the countries’ relationship. The agreement, valued at over $600 billion, aims to strengthen economic ties between the two nations and covers various sectors, including energy, defense, mining, and more.

Trump received a warm welcome in Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler. “I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said, highlighting the strong bond between the two leaders.

The economic partnership includes major deals, such as a $142 billion defense sales agreement, making it the largest defense cooperation deal in US history. The package will provide Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defense firms.

Other notable agreements include energy cooperation, modernizing the Saudi armed forces, judicial cooperation, and collaborations between the Smithsonian Museum and Saudi institutions. Saudi Arabian DataVolt plans to invest $20 billion in AI data centers and energy infrastructure in the US, while Google, DataVolt, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber will invest $80 billion in cutting-edge technologies in both countries.

However, Trump’s trip has not been without controversy. The president plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from Qatar, worth approximately $400 million, which will reportedly be donated to a future presidential library. Critics argue that this could lead to ethical and security concerns.

Senator Josh Hawley said, “It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America. That would be ideal.” Senator Rand Paul added, “I don’t think it looks good or smells good.” Nikki Haley, Trump’s first-term UN ambassador, tweeted, “Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and US can be bought.”

Trump brushed off concerns, comparing the gift to favors on the golf course. “When they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, ‘Thank you very much,’” he said.

The economic partnership and defense agreements demonstrate the strengthening relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia. Mohammad A. Abunayyan, founder and chairman of ACWA Power, said, “We are happy with the President Trump administration because at least they come to reality and reality (is) fossil fuel, we need it forever.” Abunayyan added, “We don’t want people to lecture us… Each country has to decide by its own and no country will come and force you to do something.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that any ceasefire deal with Hamas would be temporary, saying, “If Hamas were to say it would release more hostages, we’ll take them, and then we’ll go in. But there will be no way we will stop the war.”

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