RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged US$600 billion in trade and investment with the United States as he congratulated Donald Trump on his return to the White House. The commitment was made in a phone call following Trump’s inauguration, according to Saudi state media.

The crown prince, de facto leader of the world’s largest oil exporter, outlined plans to expand trade and investment over the next four years. The US$600 billion commitment represents more than half of Saudi Arabia's GDP, though details on the funds' origin and use were not disclosed.

This pledge comes as Trump looks to push Saudi Arabia toward normalizing ties with Israel, a key foreign policy objective. The leaders also discussed regional stability, security, and combating terrorism. Trump’s first presidential trip in 2017 was to Saudi Arabia, and he joked that another major financial commitment might bring him back.

During his first term, Trump helped broker the Abraham Accords, which saw several Arab nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, recognize Israel. Saudi Arabia, however, has insisted it will not recognize Israel without a Palestinian state. In exchange for normalization, Saudi Arabia seeks a US defense pact and support for a civil nuclear program.

Additionally, new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed regional issues, including Iran, with Prince Mohammed, emphasizing the economic partnership between the two nations, including opportunities in AI.